Creating Change

How Union’s Student Senate works for you

Bright and early on bi-weekly Tuesday mornings, Union’s Student Association office is alive and working. 10:15 a.m. is the time that the SA executive vice president, Matthew Toews, begins preparations for the Senate meeting (I also have the privilege of attending as the SA secretary). Sixteen chairs are arranged around the conference table, with folders and name plates neatly laid out in front of each seat.  Agendas are printed and nestled inside folders, and the room waits to be filled by our very own senators. 

The meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. sharp, and senators arrive beforehand in business attire. Matthew starts the meeting with prayer and a worship thought. At this time, I take attendance (rest assured, your senators are very punctual). 

A guest is invited to nearly every meeting. Senate has met with the SA President Yann Birasa, Dr. Bazan, our university president, Student Financial Services, and several other key figures around campus. Each meeting has a purpose neatly laid out in our agenda. Students may not have the opportunity to view Senate working behind the scenes, but your senators make a huge effort to impact your experience here at Union. 

Last year, Student Senate was able to pass a bill that shifted laundry machines from a coin-operated system to be free to students. This year, we have taken a running start in order to tackle any questions or issues that our senator’s constituents (you!) bring up. The first couple of weeks were spent electing representatives. Our Faculty Senate representative on Student Senate is Brian Cruz Lopez. Our Computer and Technology Committee representative is Benie Kiyala. 

After electing representatives and familiarizing Senators with the processes included in Student Senate, we began moving into discussions. We have discussed the cafeteria situation, WiFi updates, and have explored ideas for bills. Senators can bring up issues that their constituents have discussed, and then share them in Senate to create bills that are able to make effective changes to the way our Campus operates. So far, Senate has passed one bill written by Jared Lorenzo, which is intended to prevent assignment due dates from being during Sabbath hours (from 30 minutes before sunset Friday evening to 11:59 p.m. Sabbath evening). Currently, it is in the process of being reviewed by the Administration. 

Matthew also worked with Campus Ministries to arrange a Town Hall, so that students would be able to submit questions through a Google form and get direct answers from the university’s administration. There are so many ways to fix problems and address issues on campus, but Student Senate might be one of the most direct ways to begin the process of implementing change. Contact your senator today or any day with questions, comments, or any concerns you may have.

Senator - District

Tristeonna Butzsky - Rees 1st Floor

Kaitlyn Porter - Rees 2nd Floor

Milary Vicente - Rees 3rd Floor

Jeneane Cochran - Rees 4thFloor

Jade Garcia - Culver Women

Sompaul Vorapanich - Culver Men

Jacob Sauser - Prescott 2nd & 3rd Floor

Christopher Johnson - Prescott 4th & 5th Floor

Jared Lorenzo - Prescott 6th & 7th Floor

Brian Cruz Lopez - Residential Life

Sophia Campoverde - Village Students

Benie Kiyala - International Students

Samantha Bowers - Graduate Students

By Jenna Wilson