The AS Student Senate during their meeting on Friday, Nov. 22. Joe Addison // AS Review
By Stella Harvey
The AS Review will update this story as we investigate the funding for professor disability-access training.
Vice chair election
During their meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 28, the Associated Students’ Student Senate elected At-Large Senator Sargun Handa as the vice chair of the Senate with 16 votes in favor and three votes abstaining. The vice chair has the opportunity to learn about the job of the Senate Pro-Tempore and chairs meetings when the Pro-Tempore is absent. No other senator asked to be considered for the position.
Snow accommodations and policy
Luke LeClair, student and Disability Outreach Advocacy Coordinator, urged senators to speak to their individual colleges about inclement weather accommodations for students with disabilities. LeClair shared a letter they wrote alongside dozens of other students.
LeClair said that while they have reached out to University President Sabah Randhawa and Vice-President for Enrollment and Student Services Melynda Huskey, they have not gotten a direct response. However, LeClair said they have learned through Jon McGough, director of the Disability Access Center, said that they hope to receive $5,000-$10,000 to create a series of trainings for professors on a variety of disability-access related issues, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. The AS Review is currently investigating where in Western’s budget these funds will come from.
LeClair said that there is no guarantee that Western will require professors to take these training sessions once they are developed. LeClair asked senators to speak to their colleges in the hope that tenure-track professors will support the training, as well as other efforts to make Western more accessible for students with disabilities.
Learn more about how the snow week impacted Western students here.
Ruth Eward, senator for the College of Fine and Performing Arts, also proposed that the senate craft a resolution asking professors to add a section to their syllabus letting students with disabilities know if there is inclement weather, it is okay to stay home. Eward agreed to draft a resolution and send it out to senators for further review and discussion.
Addressing concerns in the math department
Associate Professor and Director of First Year Mathematics Jen Nimtz spoke to the senate about improving first-year math courses. Nimtz said the department is currently working on developing a professional culture and revising the beginning math courses so that they are accessible to all students, while also making sure students are prepared for their next classes. After a lengthy discussion, senators agreed to work with Nimtz to create a survey for students to share what issues they are having in the first-year math program.
Discrimination complaint procedure infographic
Maya Noesen, senator for the Huxley College of the Environment, presented an infographic informing students about the Equal Opportunity Office procedures. Noesen asked for feedback from the senators on how to make the graphic accessible.