For examples of the following work done at Rational 360:
- Press releases
- Media lists
- Graphic design
- New media initiatives
- Website development and execution
- Etc.
Please e-mail me at jaclyndianeday@gmail.com.
- Associated Content
- Published March 5, 2008
- Associated Content
- Published March 6, 2008
- Published in the on-campus newspaper, the Columbia Journal
On October 27 at about 15 minutes past noon, the 55th CUC Senate was called to order in their third or fourth meeting of the year…depending on who you talk to.
This group of students is responsible for a great deal of behind-the-scenes initiatives on behalf of the student body at-large. Senate Executive Vice-President, Lupita Garza, pointed out earlier this year that many students don’t take advantage of the ability the Senate has to shape the CUC campus.
“Last year’s Senate got funding for a barbershop chair for the men’s dorm,” said Garza after the October 27th meeting. “A lot of students don’t know that!”
The Senate has been plagued by bad luck this year, but Garza is optimistic about the group. There were several vacant Senate positions at the beginning of the year, but Garza said that she has the appropriate people lined up to fill the spots. The first Senate meeting of this school year required the Senate body suspend quorum, or the minimum required number of Senators present, in order to conduct business.
In the October 27th meeting, the first item of business—after prayer—was a proposal from SA President Berny Jacques asking for additional funding for the General Youth Conference, which a handful of CUC students attend each year. Because of the high cost of the conference, Jacques sought to increase funding for the individuals. After a discussion period, the proposal passed with a few minor amendments.
Garza leads the group with confidence and efficiency. Unafraid to take control of the group, she moves along line items with a speed that the Senators seem to appreciate.
“I’ve changed the format of the Senate in order to make it more productive,” said Garza. “Last year we spent a lot of time talking—sometimes two meetings just discussing one proposal.”
Since time is scarce and the semesters are flying by, Garza also mentioned in the October 27 meeting that Senators need to submit a certain number of proposals to the Senate body per the SA Constitution.
On October 27, there were four proposals brought before the Senate. Three were approved, but because time was running short, the Senate voted to reserve judgment on the fourth until the following meeting. 2007-2008 SA President Juan-Jose Garza was the author or co-author of each of the four proposals.
Mr. Garza was also responsible for a package of proposals approved last year by the 2007-2008 Senate. This package included an amendment to the SA Constitution to create a judicial branch, which would interpret the SA Constitution when needed, would create a student court and would preside over issues in student elections, should they arise.
Another portion of the proposals included a motion to emancipate the Columbia Journal from Student Association oversight.
Mr. Garza said that because the Senate approved the proposals, they were destined to the desk of Student Life & Retention to be brought to the appropriate committees for ultimate approval. Mr. Garza doesn’t know what happened to the package of proposals; nothing has come of them since the Senate approved them.
“They’re in limbo, in Student Life and Retention,” said Mr. Garza. “I haven’t heard anything since.”
This year’s Student Senate appears to be much more motivated and passionate, said Senate VP Lupita Garza.
“Accountability is our biggest push. My motto is approachability. I want CUC students to know that if they come to a CUC senator with a concern, that we will try to address that concern,” said Ms. Garza.
Ms. Garza is determined to work more closely with the SA Executive Committee this year, insuring that the Senate and SA Executive Officers work together on proposals and initiatives.
“The biggest thing the Senate needs is student involvement,” said Ms. Garza. “Students need to know who their senators are and how to contact them with concerns.”
Ms. Garza cited the eco-friendly agenda that the 2008-2009 Senate will be pushing as reason for students to get involved, and mentioned the recycling bin program that the 2007-2008 Senate put into place last year. Last year’s Senate also created a proposal to put Wi-Fi Internet into the Health Science building for nursing students. It was passed, and those students are enjoying the fruits of the Senate labor.
“We have a great group of senators this year,” said Ms. Garza. “We have four freshmen senators, and six senators are completely new to SA involvement. Having Juan-Jose Garza [her brother] on the Senate is also helpful, because he’s so knowledgeable about school policies.”
There are a few questions left to be resolved about the Student Senate, such as what happened to the package of proposals approved last year and how they plan to fulfill a massive number of proposal requirements before the end of the semester, but the point is this: the Senate is active, passionate and deeply concerned about the college and the students.
