Senate Beat is Scarily Brief
Highlights and action items: RAIN SCARY. DO NOT DIE.
This week’s Senate Public was held on Monday, October 27, in the Student Union. Student Body President Andreanna Gude ‘26 officially began the session, reporting Vice President Lucy Knight-King ‘26 and Gude’s meeting with the Ad Hoc Committee on Accreditation. This collection of student representatives, faculty, and administration are overseen by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). The NWCCU is an independent non-profit organization responsible for certifying Reed’s academic rigor for the purposes of receiving federal funding.
Additionally, Senator Karter Stanton ‘26 and Manoel Pereira Lopes ‘28 were not present.
Student Body Vice President Lucy Knight-King ‘26 announced a Student Committee on Diversity (SCOD) movie night, screening Mississippi Masala on October 29.
Senator Sofie Braunstein ‘28 reported meeting with the Community for Accessibility Resources & Disability Support (CARDS) Committee on Thursday with Senator Pereira-Lopes. Braunstein also invited students to attend the weekly CARDS meeting in Winch from 12-1pm on Wednesdays, and email cards@reed.edu with any questions, comments, or concerns.
Senator and Appointments Committee Co-Chair Sima Fasihi ‘28 reiterated Knight-King’s comments about the movie night. Fasihi also met with Academic Support Services last Friday, along with Senator and AppComm Co-Chair Andrew Happy ‘27. Subsequently, they report that the project with the Student Committee on Academic Policy and Planning (SCAPP) concerning the junior qualifying exam is ongoing. Fasihi has their first meeting with SHARE, discussing upcoming events including a Halloween-themed lounge and open-house, as well as their Scare Bar on November 1. Finally, SHARE director L Mattson is back in office, hosting drop-in hours! Feel free to drop by and chat with them in GCC 103.
Head Treasurer Yuri Garcia ‘27 reported no quorum for the Financial Committee (FinComm). Garcia announced that their office hours have also resumed, and that Treasury is checking their email again after Fall break. Additionally, Garcia met with Occupational Health and Safety, who requested that students stay alert during inclement weather events on campus, which create dangerous conditions for pedestrians and drivers. Additionally, the rain may make stairs or other slippery places a very dangerous risk. Environmental Health and Safety also discussed installing mirrors in blind sports around campus.
Assistant Treasurer Maya Gutierrez ‘27, now acting Vice Treasurer, will be the student representative for the Budget Realignment Council (BRC), working towards reducing about 10% of expenditures across all departments on campus due to the decrease in student enrollment. Gutierrez announced several opportunities for students and faculty to engage with this committee, participating in ongoing negotiations. Specifically, she encouraged interested students, faculty, and staff to attend information sessions on Wednesday, November 12, from 11am to 11:45am in Vollum 126 and Thursday, November 13, 12pm to 12:45pm in Eliot 314. Email her with any questions at mgutierrez@reed.edu.
Senator Happy reiterated Fasihi’s updates on the junior qualifying exam, stating that the pending comprehensive report would be presented back to SCAPP and Academic Support Services.
The remaining senators, Ren Raskin ‘27 and Justin Sotomayor ‘27, had nothing to report in absentia, and Gude subsequently adjourned Senate Public at a record short time.