Special Business
Tuesday, Sept. 16, College President Katherine Rowe visited the Student Assembly Senate to discuss accessibility, housing, student experience and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Rowe stressed the importance of developing campus infrastructure that prioritizes accessibility and facilitates cross-campus transportation for students and faculty.
“I think it would be good to have new infrastructure, including both accessibility and parking to get people closer to the spaces they need to be learning in and living in and have more points of entry that make a lot of sense,” Rowe said.
Rowe addressed concerns about student housing, for both undergraduate and graduate students, amidst the increased cost of living in the City of Williamsburg. Rowe discussed further collaboration with the City to ensure safe and affordable housing off-campus.
“If Rent Ready goes through, we will publish their list of Rent Ready apartments and houses as ones that we endorse,” Rowe said. “People will make sure that parents also have access to that list.”
When faced with a question from Sen. Tyson Liverman ’27 on the future of diversity and inclusion amidst a federal administration that has vowed to erase every diversity, equity, and inclusion program across the country, Rowe focused on how the College of William and Mary has shifted to a broader approach.
“In 2021, we made, during the pandemic, a real shift in our approach,” Rowe said. “We started looking for systemic improvements that would capture so many people that it’s more people than we knew who need support, or access.”
Rowe referenced initiatives to prioritize holistic student well-being, like free Fitness and Wellness classes through the Bee McLeod Recreation Center and the Wellness Center. Rowe also referenced the initiative that shifted the TutorZone to be free of cost.
“We’re thinking about the most expansive version of inclusion and belonging that we can,” Rowe said. “And look for every place where there’s obstacles that we’re not seeing.”
Chair of the Finance Committee Sen. Ryan Silien’28 provided the Quarterly Finance Update. Silien emphasized the growing number of registered student organizations requesting Organization Budget Allocation Process funding, causing the funding allotments for Student Assembly bills to decrease.
Silien advocated for a more financially mindful approach, taking into consideration the annual events continually hosted by SA and the necessity of Reserves funds.
Old Business
The senate passed the Subsidize Plan B and DME Bill sponsored by Sen. Nina Argel ’28, Class President Devaughn Henry ’28, Sen. Mackenna Wyckoff ’28 and Sen. Ryan Ponmakha ’28.
The senate passed the bill with an contentious amendment to remove Section B of Resolve 1, removing the section subsidizing Durable Medical Equipment for students.
Multiple senators expressed concern over SA funds going towards an issue that did not seem necessarily pertinent to the well-being of the student body.
The senate also passed The Powwow Cultural Recognition Act, sponsored by Liverman. This bill allocates funding for the planning and implementation of a recognition and celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day with the Native American and Indigenous Student Association.
Executive Updates
The executive announced plans to re-establish a Busch Gardens Day next fall. If implemented, Busch Gardens Day would offer a limited number of discounted tickets to the local amusement park to students and staff for one day during the Fall 2026 semester.
The executive also announced upcoming Rent Ready forums at the College. Rent Ready Williamsburg is a current certification program proposed by the City of Williamsburg to make the off-campus housing search process more accessible and safer for students.
