AS Student Senate update graphic PJ Heusted // AS Review
By PJ Heusted
The Associated Students Student Senate met on Wednesday, Mar. 3 for their eighth meeting of the 2020-21 academic year.
Black Student Organization Demand Updates
Senator for the College of the Environment Laura Wagner shared that the Legacy Review Task Force met for the first time and that her and AS Personnel Director Kaylan Rocamora connected with VP for Sustainability Zarea Lavalais to continue to work on the Huxley name change.
Senate Pro-tempore Sargun Handa shared that Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Brent Carbajal said that a College of Ethnic Studies will likely not be created at Western. Sargun said that administrators are considering looking towards creating a program or institute, but not a college.
Senators for the College of Fine and Performing Arts Aidyn Stevens and Kharma Stambaugh shared that they are continuing to work on increasing the number of art installations created by black artists on campus and within their college. They started working with the AS VU Gallery Director Newt Warren on potentially involving that position in the selection of art for campus spaces outside of the VU Gallery.
Letter to Western’s President
VP for Diversity Ranulfo Molina spoke as a guest to present a letter written by himself, Sargun and AS President Abdul Malik Ford.
The letter formally asks for the creation of a Chief Diversity Officer position within the President’s cabinet to focus specifically on achieving the university’s diversity, equity and inclusion goals.
Student Senate Appointees
Sargun presented the four students being appointed to the senate for confirmation by the other senators.
New senators include Senator At-Large Anna Hedrick, Senator At-large Daniela Reyes, Senator for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Colton Romannose and Senator for the Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies Rebeca Andrade-Eekhoff.
The senators were confirmed and officially appointed to the senate with a unanimous vote in favor.
Introductory Math Course Fail Rates
Senators for the College of Science and Engineering Olivia Chatters and Ankur Handa presented information about the creation of a First Year Mathematics Steering Committee to help plan and create curriculum to improve the success of students in introductory math courses.
There are already a series of recommendations to improve the courses and the senators presented these recommendations along with the progress that’s been made to fulfill the suggestions. Most of the progress is still in the planning phase with little official change made thus far.
The senators hope to send out a survey to students to get feedback about their experiences in the introductory math courses to help guide future conversations.
Stambaugh asked if the senators are looking into possible changes or replacements for the ALEKS placement test required by the university. Chatters and Ankur said they haven’t looked into the placement test yet but will consider it in the future.