Since the induction of the new members of the Madison College Student Senate, there has been a more practical movement towards a student-focused approach to policy. During the Summer Term, members of the Senate introduced two new resolutions and one new bill. The Senate has also been actively looking to gather information on student issues. Senators have been engaging with the student body at Campus Fun Days and working to accomplish the Senate Three-Year Plan.
The first resolution focuses on the mental health, physical safety, and all-around well-being of the LGBTQIA+ communities here at Madison College. The Senate resolved to do this in the following ways: (1) advancing and defending the fundamental rights that all students ought to have, (2) ensuring the safety, inclusion, equity, belongingness, and accessibility for all students who belong to these groups, and (3) working with the Wisconsin Technical College System Student Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee to further these goals as well as combating legislation that negatively impacts LGBTQIA+ communities.
The second resolution focuses on the recognition of the students at Madison College who enrolled in protective and emergency services programs. This resolution entailed the support of a week set aside for the recognition of these individuals and their willingness to serve the broader community. The week included two days in which Student Senators gave out coffee to the students in the Human and Protective Services building. As part of the Senate’s effort to support students studying to be in the protective and emergency services fields, they submitted “Student Spotlights” of multiple students to The Clarion to provide an opportunity for them to tell the world why they want to serve. The week culminated with members of the Senate assisting in the setup for the 9/11 memorial flag display in the Luissar Plaza at the Truax campus, as well as Senator Michael Malone giving a short speech at the 9/11 remembrance event.
The current projects of the Student Senate include working with the Office of Public Safety to reinstitute the Public Safety Advisory Board, lobbying for increased bookstore hours, as well as fielding and resolving student concerns. Stop in and see your Senators in their office, located in Student Life on the Truax Campus, in the Gateway building.