By Camille Cox | Staff Writer
The Student Senate has worked to create bills that will benefit the Baylor student population both financially and mentally.
Little Rock, Ark., junior Ginger Gordon, who serves as the president pro tempore of the Student Senate, authored two bills that are going into effect this semester. One of them, the Library Calculator Checkout bill, allows students to check out graphing calculators from Moody Memorial Library.
“I had to spend $100 for one math class, and I just didn’t feel that was right,” Gordon said. “If I was struggling to pay for that, I knew there would be other students who would likely benefit from having that as well.”
Gordon’s other bill, Fostering the Christmas Spirit, will enable the purchase and installation of a large Christmas tree in Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation.
“The tree is going to be 24 feet tall, so it will reach up to the third story,” Gordon said.
According to Baylor Student Government, the Student Senate “exists to advocate on behalf of students and to voice the opinion of Baylor students.”
These elected student representatives work diligently to make and pass bills that benefit students. Gordon wants students to realize that Student Government is on their side.
“I would just hope that they recognize how much Student Government wants to help them,” Gordon said. “I’m really hoping people like the Christmas tree specifically.”
Alongside Gordon’s work on the calculator and tree bills, Houston junior Ruhi Thapar, who serves as a student senator, worked with other senators to help the Department of Multicultural Affairs expand its office in the Bill Daniel Student Center to host the interns of LatinX, Coalition of Asian Students and Black Student Coalition.
“They really needed space to meet and collaborate,” Thapar said. “We were able to help them out and renovate that so that they have a place to meet.”
Looking forward to this semester, Student Government hopes to work to increase diversity and involvement throughout campus and in Student Government itself.
Student Government provides a voice for students who wish to change things on campus. If you have concerns or questions about Student Government, contact student body president Grace Kelliher.
“We want to work toward increasing involvement and getting more voices in the Senate,” Thapar said. “We want more diverse opinions, thoughts and majors to hear what they need.”
