Senate Beat is One Big Happy Family

Highlights and action items: Missed Connections (MCs) is hiring editors. Senate is looking for feedback from students on the Commons Friendship Flags and any other Commons-related issues. 

Student Body President Andrew Happy ’27 began the meeting at 4:10pm, announcing that the Appeals Board has completed its most recent appeal. He then reported that the Commencement Committee has selected the Commencement Ceremony speaker and that the selection would be announced soon. He lastly reported that the Student Publications Committee will be communicating with the Griffin about student publication funding and the current club financial situation. 

Student Body Vice President Taylor Barth ’27 then reported that he recently talked to the Alumni Committee about upcoming meetings and that he is excited to present a slideshow about updates to student spaces on campus, including Paradox’s reopening. He further announced that the Commons Committee had met the day before and that the Climate Assessment Committee would be meeting the next day. He lastly announced that the Student Committee on Diversity (SCOD) will be tabling on Tuesday, March 17 from 12-1pm and that students should stop by to take their survey on campus resource accessibility and general feelings of belonging at Reed. 

Senator Stella Greer ’29 then reported that she would be meeting with various committees at the end of this week. 

Senator Alastair Budd ’27 reported that he is coordinating with Center for Life Beyond Reed (CLBR) to plan a resume event for students applying for Senate positions. He then reported that he would be meeting with the Computer Planning and Policy Committee (CPPC) this Friday. He lastly announced that FinComm would be held later that day and that AppComm would be held later that week.

Senator Enzo Lawrence ’28 reported that the Reed Union Committee had met last Tuesday to discuss the most recent Union event and procedures for future Union events. He further reported that the committee had begun planning an upcoming Union event. He lastly reported that the Title IX Committee has recently confirmed some small procedural changes and is now beginning to review the popularity of response hearings versus live hearings. 

Assistant Treasurer Al McKee ’29 reported that they have an upcoming meeting scheduled with the bookstore board. 

Vice Treasurer Bella Reyes ’27 reported that the Board Undertaking Student Hazards (BUSH) is currently waiting until Director of Risk Management April Sams returns from vacation to schedule a meeting. 

Head Treasurer Maya Gutierrez ’27 then reported that she was working on a Google Form application for KRRC Office Committee (KOC) and that the Bylaw Committee is working on a Google Form which would help organize an input event for club signatories to discuss the funding process. She then reported that last week FinComm had assessed three clubs. Student Dark Room had requested $399.79, which Senate had voted to fully allocate. Writers Bloc had requested $602.58. Happy then asked for a motion and a second, which were provided by Senator Manuel Pereira Lopes ’28 and Barth respectively. Senate then unanimously voted to approve this allocation. Gutierrez then reported that Mock Trial had requested $1,685 for their ORCS tournament this weekend, and had asked for an expedited approval. At that time Senate voted to temporarily suspend the Bylaws and allocate these funds before their typical allocation date. Senate then replicated the vote during the Public, with Reyes motioning and Greer seconding. Senator Sima Fasihi ’28 abstained but the vote was otherwise unanimous. 

Senator Pereira Lopes then reported that the Accessibility Committee’s new website would be launching soon. He reported that he had met with Commons the week prior, asking that students send any feedback either through Commons comment cards or by emailing himself, Barth, and Greer. 

Appointments Committee Co-chair and Fasihi then reported that the Senate Committee on Academic Policy and Planning (SCAPP) had their first meeting with new members recently, and is currently putting together a report for the Junior Qual survey. She then reported that the Legislation Committee will be meeting this Friday. She lastly reported that AppComm would like to recommend Talia Beebe ’28 for Appeals Board and Claire Littman ’28 for Griffin Business Manager. Happy requested a motion and a second, which were provided by Greer and Gutierrez respectively. The vote was subsequently unanimous.

Fasihi then announced that she would be reading Senator Sofie Braunstein’s ’28 report cards. She read that there would be goats in the quad this Thursday to help with midterm stress. She read that the Reed Union Committee would be meeting the following day and that student musicians should reach out to Sustainability@reed.edu if they wish to perform at Canyon Day. She further read that AppComm would like to recommend Oliver Wuhs ’29 for Committee on Accessibility Resources and Disability Services (CARDS) Engagement Manager. Happy then requested a motion and a second, which were provided by Pereira Lopes and Reyes respectively. The vote was unanimous. Fasihi lastly read on behalf of Braunstein that MCs would be hiring editors this week. 

Happy then announced on behalf of Braunstein that various alumni are asking Reed students to participate in a petition to Reed College President Audrey Bilger and the Trustees of Reed College requesting that they take a harder stance regarding political control of higher education from the Trump administration. Senate has been asked to distribute this survey and will be putting it on their Instagram and in SB info.

Happy adjourned the meeting at 4:22pm. Senator Justin Sotomayor ’27 and Appointments Committee Co-chair Sofie Braunstein ’28 were absent.