The new ASPSU senate was scheduled to meet for the first time yesterday afternoon, but failed to make quorum.
Despite this, those present introduced themselves and discussed some upcoming issues they will be facing in future meetings.
One of these issues was the proposed student recreation center. Sen. Christy Harper, who sat on the student senate last year as well, has been working on the proposal for the new center and plans to bring an option for a referendum to the senate in the next few weeks.
She is hoping that the referendum to increase student fees in order to pay for the new recreation center can be added to a possible special elections ballot in the fall term.
Former interim chair of the Evaluation and Constitutional Review (E&CR) committee Annie Stewart said the E&CR is considering holding a special elections in the fall term in order to approve a revised version of the ASPSU constitution that last year’s senate failed to pass in time for the recent spring elections.
Last year’s E&CR revised and edited the current ASPSU constitution in order to make it more clear and more effective.
ASPSU Vice President, and senate chair, Joe Johnson addressed the status of some of the senators elected during the spring elections.
Matt Wallace, Reina Abolofia, Rachel Searle and Golden Ashby were all elected, but failed to attend required candidate orientation. Due to this, the E&CR ruled that they were to be disqualified.
Johnson explained that it is still unclear whether this decision will hold, as the former ASPSU elections committee never took any action based on the E&CR’s ruling, which also involves the position of Student Fee Committee chair.
“We’re operating on the assumption that the votes were invalid,” Johnson said. “It’s been a difficult process and very confusing.”
Those four senators will be appointed to the senate in the first meeting in which the senate makes quorum.
The senators and soon-to-be-senators spent a few minutes introducing themselves to each other.
Sen. Nathan Pawlicki, who was a senator last year and also sat on the E&CR, expressed the importance that the senate read, know and adhere to the ASPSU constitution.
“I think it’s important,” he said. “It’s important to follow the process from the beginning.”
Johnson suggested that Sen. Jennifer Schmidt, a first year graduate student, consider joining the E&CR when she expressed an interest in organization and laws.
Other issues new senators showed an interest in included the legislative process, instating a queer resource center and completing the playground in the South Park Blocks.
“I would like to work on issues to improve the lives of students at PSU,” Sen. Elizabeth Joo said.
Wallace, who is still awaiting an appointment after the E&CR’s decision, commented, “I’ll hopefully be on the senate soon.”
Abolofia, who sat on the senate last year, was more vocal about her frustration with the E&CR’s decision, which essentially discounted her votes.
“I was elected in March, but unelected by the E&CR,” she said. “I would like to see the senate run more smoothly than last year.”
The senate’s next scheduled meeting is for next Wednesday, May 21, at 3 p.m. When they meet they will mostly be hearing appointments and nominations for the senate and various committees.