Special Business
Director of Student Leadership Development Anne Arseneau ’89 MA.Ed ’92 polled all the senators, asking what Student Assembly initiatives should be prioritized in funding. The top three resources in the poll were the Period Act, which provides free menstrual products around campus, subsidized Plan B and Pregnancy Tests for students and STI Testing offered at the Wellness Center.
New Business
Class President Zoe Wang ’26, Sen. Yasmin Kudrati-Plummer ’28, Sen. Sophie Kennedy ’27 and Sen. Cheryl Dao ’27 introduced The . Act VI. This bill would reintroduce the previous Period Act, which has worked to make menstrual products more accessible and cost-friendly across campus. This bill iteration would include additional stainless steel period product dispensers in four residence halls. The bill provides funding for sustainable period products, like menstrual cups.
Class President Zoe Wang ’26, Sen. Matt Swenson ’26, Class President Nico Giro-Martin ’27, Sen. Cheryl Dao ’27 and Sen. Nina Argel ’28 introduced The Pride Month Act. This bill would establish the funding and oversight for all Pride Month activities, celebrated during April as the official Pride Month of June occurs over summer break.
The activities funded include Pride Fest, Queer Prom, LGBTQ+ Research Symposium and the Special Collections Open House. The bill empowers the established Pride Month Planning Committee to plan and execute the Pride Month events. The Undersecretary of LGBTQIA+ Affairs Carsten Chow ’28 heads the Pride Month Planning Committee, a group composed of representatives of queer-activist campus organizations and members of SA.
Old Business
The chamber passed The Meadows Wellness ‘N Chill Act, which will provide funding for the event of the same name. The outdoor event will take place in April and will include painting as well as food, including cupcakes, with the goal of “boosting student morale,” according to the drafters of the bill.
Another bill, The Strategy Process for Reserves Act, introduced by Sen. Matt Swenson ’26, was supposed to be voted on but was moved back for another week of review by committees. This was deemed necessary by a procedural code that states that bills that amend the constitution require extra time before being voted on.
Executive Updates
Vice President Oscar Lazo ’25 emphasized the importance of staying observant of the changes to the U.S. Department of Education, amid the political changes ongoing with the federal bureaucracy.
“I think there should be a student movement ongoing in response to this, not just reacting when these are actually being pushed into orders,” Lazo said.
