The Virginia Informer
The Virginia Informer
SA Senate secures recycling, moves on to water guns
By Alex Randy Kyrios & Matthew Sutton, Staff Writers
In the three Student Assembly meetings between September 13 and 27, only four bills were voted on that were unrelated to internal Senate affairs and of more direct interest to students. Most visibly, the recycling program—sponsored by Senator Joe Luppino-Esposito of the Class of 2008—was approved 14 votes to none, with one abstention. Recycling dumpsters can now be found all across campus, and take a wide spectrum of unsorted, recyclable goods.
In the three Student Assembly meetings between September 13 and 27, only four bills were voted on that were unrelated to internal Senate affairs and of more direct interest to students. Most visibly, the recycling program—sponsored by Senator Joe Luppino-Esposito of the Class of 2008—was approved 14 votes to none, with one abstention. Recycling dumpsters can now be found all across campus, and take a wide spectrum of unsorted, recyclable goods.
Students have reacted favorably. “I'm a big fan of recycling,” said freshman Andrea Bidanset, “I've been using it a lot.”
Another approved bill which relates directly to the student body was the Class of 2008 Additional Funding Act. During floor debate, there was disagreement as to whether appropriating additional funds to the sophomore class for events such as the Club 208 dance party, rides to away football games, and a battle of the bands would truly benefit a wide range of students. Some argued that these additional funds would only benefit a narrower group, namely, the sophomore class alone. Chairman Luther Lowe offered “cautious support for the bill,” which passed 17-1, with senior Senator Harry Godfrey as the lone dissenter. Godfrey voiced concerns about money being appropriated in a “fair and just manner,” and feared “a dangerous precedent” of handing out funds too easily.
Freshman Senator Matt Beato, on his first day in office, voted in favor of the bill in order to display solidarity with the Class of 2008, which, much like his own class, receives less funding than the Classes of 2007 and 2006. He praised the 2008 programs, saying that “students care about” those sorts of activities.
On the 27th, the Senate voted on “A Statement to Prove We Care About Our Workers.” A passing vote on this bill would have expressed the Senate's approval of a low-cost housing initiative in James City County. The bill's sponsors, Senator Sean Barker (‘07) and Senator Jeanette Snider (‘09), argued this was beneficial to College staff in low- and middle-income brackets. Ten senators voted in its support, nine against, and Senator Brett Phillips abstained. The bill failed.
The final bill that passed (unrelated to internal senate affairs) was the Community News Act, sponsored by Senator Godfrey. The plan uses some funds to create a publication that will be distributed among Williamsburg and James City homes. Godfrey promised the publication will “[allow] us to publicize to the community” the “civic contributions of William & Mary students.” Some students feel they are being unfairly treated by certain parts of the community who stereotype all college students, and this bill was proposed with the intent to combat that perceived bias. Despite skepticism expressed on the Senate floor, the bill passed 16 votes to one, with an abstention. The bill mandates that the first issue of the publication be delivered by October 31 of this year.
The Senate also reconfirmed Andrew Costello to the Review Board, and will process five more of SA President Ryan Scofield's appointments on October 4. These consist of four reappointments to the Review Board, as well as a new appointment of freshman Alex Kyrios to the Elections Commission.
The Aquatic Weapon Ban Repeal Act, sponsored by Senator Shariff Tanious and Senator Luppino-Esposito, will also be reviewed on October 4. Since last spring—when a College-wide referendum showed that two-thirds of students supported repealing the ban on toy and aquatic guns—the idea of water guns on campus has been an issue on some students’ minds; junior Kevin West even went so far as to create a Facebook group dedicated to the cause. Controversy existed in that the Senate, including the departing senators from the Class of 2005, defeated an attempt to formally recommend repealing the ban to the College administration. With a new body of senators now also representing the Class of 2009, the sophomore senators sponsoring the bill hope to make water guns legal on campus.
Senate meetings are open to the public and are held in Tyler 301 every Tuesday at 7:00 PM. The last Tuesday of every month they are held in the Blow Hall Board of Visitors room.
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