Student Senate: Difference between revisions
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The '''Rensselaer Union Student Senate''' (usually known as the '''Student Senate''' or simply the '''Senate''') is the chief legislative and advocacy body of the [[Rensselaer Union]], responsible for initiating all legislative action into issues that affect the Union and advocating for the membership of the Union to the [[Institute administration]]. The Senate was formed in 1970, and is the successor to the [[Student Council]]. Together with the Executive Board, it is considered one of the Union bodies most directly involved in the governance of the Union. It is presided over by the [[Grand Marshal]], and has a maximum voting membership of 29 Senators, elected from various constituencies from among the Union membership. | The '''Rensselaer Union Student Senate''' (usually known as the '''Student Senate''' or simply the '''Senate''') is the chief legislative and advocacy body of the [[Rensselaer Union]], responsible for initiating all legislative action into issues that affect the Union and advocating for the membership of the Union to the [[Institute administration]]. The Senate was formed in 1970, and is the successor to the [[Student Council]]. Together with the [[Executive Board]], it is considered one of the Union bodies most directly involved in the governance of the Union. It is presided over by the [[Grand Marshal]], and has a maximum voting membership of 29 Senators, elected from various constituencies from among the Union membership. | ||
The Senate is currently in its 57th session, and is presided over by the 160th Grand Marshal, Jordan Krishnayah ‘28. | The Senate is currently in its 57th session, and is presided over by the 160th Grand Marshal, Jordan Krishnayah ‘28. | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
The Student Senate was predated by the [[Student Council]] under the 1947 and 1969 Union Constitutions. | The Student Senate was predated by the [[Student Council]] under the 1947 and 1969 Union Constitutions. It was originally established by the Union Constitution, although the existence of a "Student Senate Newsletter" weeks before the referendum for the Constitution suggests that it may have started operating before its approval. In its initial iteration, it was made up of the elected members of the [[Graduate Council]] and [[Undergraduate Council]], and was presided over by the Grand Marshal. This meant that in 1970, there were 12 voting members of the Student Senate; | ||
* The Undergraduate Council; | * The Undergraduate Council; | ||
** One | ** One representative from each of the four classes | ||
** One representative from each of the [[Independent Council]] and Interfraternity Council, at the time both subsidiary organizations of the UC | ** One representative from each of the [[Independent Council]] and [[Interfraternity Council]], at the time both subsidiary organizations of the UC | ||
* The Graduate Council{{efn|The GC also included five "at-large members", but these were appointed and so not members of the Senate}}; | * The Graduate Council{{efn|The GC also included five "at-large members", but these were appointed and so, presumably, not members of the Senate.}}; | ||
** Representatives from the schools; two for the [[School of Science]], two for the [[School of Engineering]], one from the [[School of Management]], and one jointly representing the [[School of HASS]] and the [[School of Architecture]]. | ** Representatives from the schools; two for the [[School of Science]], two for the [[School of Engineering]], one from the [[School of Management]], and one jointly representing the [[School of HASS]] and the [[School of Architecture]]. | ||
By 1974, the structure of the Senate had changed once more to resemble closely its modern structure. It included six graduate Senators, four from each of the undergraduate classes, and one Senator from each of the IC and IFC (who were now subsidiary to the Senate rather than the Undergraduate Council). | By 1974, the structure of the Senate had changed once more to resemble closely its modern structure. It included six graduate Senators, four from each of the undergraduate classes, and one Senator from each of the IC and IFC (who were now subsidiary to the Senate rather than the Undergraduate Council). By 1987, the [[Panhellenic Council]] had been brought into the fold as another subsidiary body, and the IFC Senator was turned into a Greek Senator representing both councils, which would become one Senator for each council in 2013. | ||
Starting in the 1990s, the Senate began to take a more distant approach to Union governance beyond their role as a check on the other branches, a process accelerated by the changes in Institute presidential administrations and according attacks on the autonomy and self-governance of the Union. By the mid-2000s, its documentation ceased to mention the Union directly, although this would later be reversed in the 2010s during the [[Save the Union]] era. | |||
Declining participation in Greek Life also drove change to the Senate. In 2014, the Independent Council chose to dissolve itself, claiming that independent students becoming a majority made many of the functions of the IC obsolete<ref>[https://poly.rpi.edu/opinion/2014/03/2014-03-26-amendments-include-ic-senators-terms-of-office-2 "Amendments include IC Senators, terms of office"]</ref>. In 2015, constitutional changes split the IFC and Panhellenic Council from the Senate, officially ending integration of Greek organizations into the Union. The Senate positions held by these three organizations remained, although now became generally elected. In 2023, two new Senator positions were added; one for the Multicultural Sorority and Fraternity Council and a third Independent Senator. In 2026, the three Greek Senator positions were merged into three at-large positions, with elections conducted to prioritize diverse council representation. | |||
==Membership== | ==Membership== | ||
=== Voting=== | === Voting=== | ||
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| [[Vice Grand Marshal|Vice Grand Marshal for Internal Affairs]] || {{Yes C}} || Oversee the Senate's internal functioning, chair the [[Rules and Administration Committee]] | | [[Vice Grand Marshal|Vice Grand Marshal for Internal Affairs]] || {{Yes C}} || Oversee the Senate's internal functioning, chair the [[Rules and Administration Committee]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Parlimentarian || {{Yes C}} || Ensure Senate | | Parlimentarian || {{Yes C}} || Ensure Senate meetings are orderly and obey Robert's Rules of Order | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Secretary || {{Yes C}} || Take notes on Senate meetings | | Secretary || {{Yes C}} || Take notes on Senate meetings | ||
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! Committee !! Established !! Jurisdiction!! Incumbent Chair | ! Committee !! Established !! Jurisdiction!! Incumbent Chair | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Academic Affairs Committee]] || | | [[Academic Affairs Committee]] || 1974 || Curricula, advising, registration, research, and professional development||Zach Nobles '27 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Community Relations Committee]] || 2001? || Relations with the local community and RPI clubs ||Mia Stryhalaleck '28 | | [[Community Relations Committee]] || 2001? || Relations with the local community and RPI clubs ||Mia Stryhalaleck '28 | ||
| Line 113: | Line 118: | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
{{notelist}} | {{notelist}} | ||
== References == | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
{{Navbox Union}} | |||
{{Navbox Senate}} | |||