Tuesday, Feb. 11, the College of William and Mary’s Student Assembly Senate voted to pass “The School of Computing, Data Sciences & Physics Student Governance Integration Act,” in addition to introducing two new bills.
The chamber also oversaw the swearing-in of a new class of 2026 senator, filling a vacancy.
Special Business
Review board member Jason Zheng ’26 swore in Peerawut Ruangsawasdi ’26 to replace the vacancy made by the resignation of Senator Spencer Krivo ’25 last semester. The SA Senate took applications to fill the vacancy, selecting Ruangsawasdi earlier this month.
New Business
Chair of the Senate Sen. Hazel Vineet ’25, Sen. Mathew Hwang ’25, Sen. Jeffrey Gu ’25, Sen. Kyle Lewis-Johnson ’25, Sen. Laayba Tanoli ’25 and Class President Nicolas Giro-Martin ’27 introduced “The Meadows Wellness ‘N Chill Act.” The bill aims to reintroduce the event hosted by the class of 2025 senators since 2021, now partnering with the class of 2027. The event would include painting as well as food items such as cupcakes.
Sen. Matt Swenson ’26 introduced “The Strategy Process for Reserves Act.” The bill would establish the adoption of an Annual Reserves Resolution, aiming to outline reserve limits and educate all senators on the Student Assembly financial process.
The bill states that a goal of the new bill is to “encourage more significant review of Student Assembly spending” and “cultivate a collaborative, careful mindset in the consideration of other matters.”
Old Business
The SA Senate also passed “The School of Computing, Data Sciences & Physics Student Governance Integration Act.” The bill will add several amendments to the Constitution of the Student Assembly and the Code of the Student Assembly to integrate the new School of Computing, Data Sciences & Physics, which will open at the start of the Fall 2025 semester. The bill adds a senate position for the school and provides funding for SA activities.
These changes will take effect at the start of the 333rd Student Assembly, which will begin in the 2025-26 academic year.
Open Questions for Senate and Executive
Sen. Ryan Silien ’28 asked the other senators about fliers that had been posted across campus without approval from the College under the name of the Committee for the Contextualization of Campus Landmarks & Iconography on Charter Day. The fliers criticized the names of the College’s landmarks and academic buildings.
As CCL&I is a subsection committee in SA, Silien asked for clarification on the unapproved posting process.
“I think that some of the derisive, sarcastic, ironic language in it, especially in the context of Charter Day, which is something that student assembly was involved in, planning and making accessible to the students, does not reflect well on us or our mission,” Silien said.
Class President Nico Giro-Martin ’27 addressed Silien’s question by providing context on the relationship between SA and CCL&I and the miscommunication regarding the fliers.
CCL&I is currently a subcommittee of SA but is in the process of potentially moving to a reporting structure. This process would facilitate communication and formalize the group’s relationship with the Student Assembly.
Director of Student Leadership Development Anne Arseneau ’89 M.A.Ed ’92 commented on the relationship between the two organizations.
“We don’t have a solid reporting, which is something Terra, Nico and I have not nailed down, but have been circulating around finalizing,” Arseneau said.
