Student Senate
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 30 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.
Membership
Voting
The Senate is made up of 30 Senators. With the exception of the four Senators representing the incoming first-year class, who are elected in their freshman fall semester, all Senators are elected during the GM Week elections in the spring semester. The following table describes the Senate's voting makeup:
| Position | Constitutency | Also a member of | Reappointed by | Committee Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Class Senator (4 per undergraduate class) |
Members of that undergraduate class | Respective Class Council | 2 | |
| Graduate Senator (7) |
Graduate students | Graduate Council | 1 Senate, 1 Graduate Council | |
| Independent Senator (3) |
Non-Fraternity and Sorority Life-affiliated students | None (Formerly the Independent Council) | Nominated by Grand Marshal, appointed by the Senate | 2 |
| FSL Senator (3) |
Fraternity and Sorority Life-affiliated students | None | Nominated by Grand Marshal, appointed by the Senate | 0 |
Nonvoting
In addition to the voting membership and the Grand Marshal, the Senate also has various nonvoting members. Of these, the vast majority are considered Officers of the Senate. Collectively, the Officers of the Senate are usually referred to as the Senate Cabinet, although the Cabinet has occasionally had members that do not hold an officer position.
| Position | Officer? | Role | Appointment Process |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vice Grand Marshal for External Affairs |  Yes |
Oversee the Senate's advocacy committees | Nominated by the Grand Marshal Confirmed by 2/3rds vote |
| Vice Grand Marshal for Internal Affairs | Yes |
Oversee the Senate's internal functioning, chair the Rules and Administration Committee | |
| Parlimentarian | Yes |
Ensure Senate meeting are orderly and obey Robert's Rules of Order | |
| Secretary | Yes |
Take notes on Senate meetings | |
| Treasurer | Yes |
Handle the Senate's budget | |
| Senate-Executive Board Liaison | Yes |
Serve as a voting member on the Executive Board, represent the Senate's interests on the Executive Board | |
| Chair of each standing committee | Yes |
Lead and guide their respective committee | Appointed by the Grand Marshal Confirmed by simple majority vote |
| FSL Liaisons (One for each of the Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, and Multicultural Sorority and Fraternity Council) |
 No |
Represent the interests of their council on the Senate | Appointed by their respective council |
| Organizational Liaisons | No |
Represent the interests of their organization on the Senate | Appointed by any student-lead organization |
In practice, it is not uncommon for holders of many of the above roles to also be Senators, with the exception of the Senate-Executive Board Liaison due to the constitutional prohibition on holding a voting role on both boards. However, it is customary that the Secretary and Parliamentarian are not voting members, due to the expectation that these roles remain neutral in Senate proceedings.
Structure and Operations
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Committees
| Committee | Established | Incumbent Chair |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Affairs Committee | A long time ago | Zach Nobles '27 |
| Community Relations Committee | Who the hell knows man | Mia Stryahaleck '28 |
| Facilities and Services Committee | 2013 | Mia Stryahaleck '28 |
| Elections Commission | 2018 | Lauren Antao '28 (Acting) |
| Residential Life and Dining Committee | 2025 | Shruthi Anandraman '28 |
| Rules and Administration Committee | 2026 | Griffin Oliver '27 |
| Senate Communications and Engagement Committee |
2025 | Emily Lin '29 |
| Student Life Committee | 2007 | Stanley Goodwin 'G |
| Union Annual Report Committee | 2015 | (Vacant) |
| Web Technologies Group | 2005? | Aaron Niyazov '28 |