"New Leaders for SA Senate, Assembly"

Two weeks after elections, the Student Association Senate met for the first time this semester and chose junior Mazin Kased as Senate chair.

For most undergraduates, the Senate's importance lies in its job to allocate SA funds and finances.

"The Senate has been monitoring finances and been providing some serious benefits and results," said SA President Anthony Burgio in a State of the Student Association address before the meeting.

After his election to the chair position, Kased touched on the allocation issue and emphasized that funds should be properly distributed to clubs, both large and small.

"Even with the ($10) increase, we are trying to make sure that students get enough money," he said. "A club is a group of people who work hard for nothing. We want to recognize them for their hard work and make sure they get enough funding."

The Senate has yet to officially determine where the approximately $300,000 raised by the recent student activity fee increase will go.

Kased also pledged to make a difference as SA Senate chair.

"I have to make sure things run smoothly, bring up and hear issues that the members propose," he said. "This year will be different in terms of thoroughly researching issues before we make a decision."

The Senate, comprised of an equal number of off- and on-campus representatives, plus the executive board of SA, also addressed several start-of-term issues.

On the heels of controversy over how SA funds were allocated last year, Burgio laid out the organization's cell phone policy. He clarified that SA members can use their school-funded cell phones for personal or academic use, as long as they don't exceed the minute plan.

Under the SA constitution, Senate members are required to meet at least once every three weeks. As of Tuesday, members had not yet decided on an official time for their next meeting.

Though the Senate did not specifically discuss how they were going to allocate the funds during their first meeting, Kased revealed future plans for changes in transportation and club funding.

"Transportation is a very important issue, and we're going to try to make it as convenient as possible," he said.

Kased also suggested that freshmen not be able to use parking spaces before 3 p.m., and proposed a suggestion box in the Student Union where students could voice opinions that the Senate would review.

Secretary Lisa Stabel said at the next meeting the Senate would pick members for the finance committee to handle funds.