The new year is just weeks underway, and Drake University Student Senate is already bustling with changes.
Drake’s newest academic opportunity, the J-Term, is only one year away, and Student Senate is eager to promote a positive experience. Alongside ongoing J-Term discussion, Senate is taking succession steps following the Jan. 19 resignation of two diversity interest senators.
Fine Arts Sen. Kayleigh Koester reported that a J-Term information fair will be held on Feb. 28 from 4-7 p.m. in Upper Olmsted. The fair will feature information about each J-Term experience available to students.
Students also have the opportunity to enter Drake’s “J-Term Logo” creation contest. Designs are due at noon on Feb. 20 in Meredith 110.
“That’s a really creative thing the university will also be doing,” Koester said about the contest.
The winning logo will be displayed at the J-Term information fair.
Although many universities postpone J-Term registration until the fall semester, Drake’s registration process will take place on March 1-8.
Instead of registering via blueView, Koester reported that J-Term students would register via drop/add slips to simplify the first-time process.
“Essentially, because it’s so new, MyDUSIS might cause more problems than can be solved, so they’re using drop/add slips to ensure that everyone knows what’s going on,” she said.
In the coming years, Drake looks to incorporate MyDUSIS in the registration process.
Senate also addressed J-Term living arrangements at last Thursday’s meeting. Goodwin-Kirk will be the lone residence hall open during J-Term.
Thursday’s meeting marked just the second rendezvous of 2012, and plans are already in place to appoint two diversity interest senators.
“I gave the multicultural organizations that attended the diversity convention last year the option of what we’re going to start doing,” said Student Affairs Committee Chair Alex Hendzel. “I let them have their own vote, and they have to send them to me. Basically, we’ll see some action going on that.”
Former diversity interest senators Tanaya Thomas and Ankita Dhussa resigned on Jan. 19, prompting the Student Senate’s succession process.
Senate also addressed several financial requests from student organizations last Thursday night.
The Drake Women’s Ultimate Club received $1,625 to fund upcoming tournaments. Senate approved $1,560 for the Rainbow Union’s upcoming Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally College Conference at Iowa State University. Drake Anime Club received $325 for an upcoming event featuring karaoke, a Japanese fashion show and Japanese game shows.
