Senator Skye Liu ’23 is trying to make Lunar New Year more recognized on campus and because it is “the most important holiday for Chinese students,” so Liu and Senator Janice Huang ’23, are looking into enabling the Chinese population to celebrate the Lunar New Year and have assignment extensions for next year.
Senator Scott Halper ’20 said that he has been receiving complaints about there being mold in Deroy and that students have been getting sick because of it. Senator for Massell Quad Dariel Jimenez ’23 said that he will look into the issue. The Brandeis Hoot reached out to DCL who said that they were aware of the complaints and that there is no mold in Deroy. Jimenez said that he is also contacting DCL to add a laundry machine in Deroy.
Senator-at-Large Nancy Zhai ’22 secured a Thanksgiving break continental breakfast on Nov. 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and at the Stein from Nov. 28 to Nov. 30 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Senator Joseph Coles ’22 said that he plans to introduce secured club advisor amendment next week.
Senator for Charles River Apartments Oliver Price ’20 said that Monday would be a “Meatless Monday” and that he would be holding a tabling event in Lower Usdan. He also said that he is working on an initiative that would allowed secured club leadership to be compensated.
Zhai read a message from Senator-at-Large Josh Hoffman ’21 saying that the Health and Safety Committee is working with DCL to fix flooding in Massell basements. They have also been meeting with the new Head of Facilities to talk about restarting the tampon initiative by next semester.
Halper said that President Simran Tatuskar’s ’21 mandated public apology had been sent out and that she would be issuing an in-person apology to Executive Senator and Interim Vice President Jake Rong ’21 and writing an apology to former Vice President Guillermo Caballero ’20.
Halper said that there was also a “miscommunication” because Tatuskar said that the dean of students told her to not talk to Caballero or Representative to the Board of Trustees Zosia Busé ’20, and she said that there had been a mutual agreement that they wouldn’t speak, but Caballero and Busé said they never agreed to postponing communication.
Senator Alison Leibowitz ’20 presented the Senate Money Resolution (SMR) for Midnight Buffet. She said that she is trying to eliminate costs and suggested not having spring rolls, which cost $407.21 for 200 spring rolls. The Senate decided to have the spring rolls but select less expensive, one-sided t-shirts.
The Senate voted on the SMR by roll call; the amendment passed 9-3 with Class of 2022 Senator Joseph Coles, East Quad Senator Priyata Bhatta ’22 and Rosenthal and Skyline Quad Senator Leah Fernandez ’22 voting against it. Coles and Fernandez said that they thought the Midnight Buffet budget, which is about 40 percent of the Senate’s yearly budget of $20,000, was too high. Leibowitz responded to their concerns by saying that many students look forward to Midnight Buffet and that it positively reflects on the work of the Union.
Rong closed the meeting saying that he was sure that Director of Outreach Kendall Chapman ’22 who is the only vice presidential candidate will do a “great job.”
