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Take a seat
Three new senate members swear in, one says good-bye
The Minnesota State Senate Association held elections for three chairs during its Wednesday meeting.
Kristi Pottebaum, Brett Carpenter and Samir Bhattarai were the newly elected senators for the Colleges of Allied Heath and Nursing, Education and Engineering and Technology, respectively.
"There's lots of changing in faculty," said aviation major Carpenter. "The students are overlooked. It's getting better and I just want help out the best that I can."
Each newly elected member brought to the venue what they wanted to get accomplished in the senate, taking an oath in front of their fellow senate members.
"I want to talk to the people," said Bhattarai. "Hear their opinion."
Senator Sanju Nepal resigned her seat representing undeclared students because she declared her major in the College of Allied Heath and Nursing. The MSSA constitution stipulates that an academic senator must be a member of the college they represent.
In other senate news:
â€¢ The bookstore committee is formulating ideas for textbook buyback and has seen an increase in book buybacks.
â€¢ A motion was passed requesting a presentation of the campus master plan. Senators also reported on the consideration of building parking ramps to coincide with President Davenport's plan of raising enrollment to 18,000.
â€¢ Student Affairs reported on the consideration of putting a new building in Lot 20, and there's also been deliberation on getting rid of Armstrong Hall in an effort to green-up the MSU campus.
â€¢ Diversity Chairperson and CSET Senator Murtaza Rajabali reported on a controversy in keeping the Women Center's name in response to men who have been sexually abused who might not want to go to a woman's center. The idea of having a men's center was raised.
â€¢ The Tenant's Association reported on trying to find a purpose in its agenda. A revamping and restructure was proposed to create a forum for tenants to come and voice their concerns in a constructive manner rather than just share complaints.
â€¢ A report was given on President Davenport's progress in India where he represented higher education and formed alliances with foreign universities from Oct. 19 to 26.
Leah Christensen is a Reporter staff writer