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The Undergraduate Student Government Senate met for the first time today in the Student Activity Center. The meeting was reasonably brief, and had a short agenda. Item One was attendance preformed by Parliamentarian Amy Keys, followed by Item Two which was a welcome message Executive Vice President Geeta Malieckal. Item Three were nominations for the President Pro-Tempore, or PPT. The PPT works with the executive branch more directly directly and also fills in the Executive Vice President in the event of an absence.
Senator Kriscenski, Senator Kent, and Senator Anderson were nominated to run for the President Pro-Tempore in that order - Senator Kriscenski nominated by Senator Shultz, Senator Kent by Senator Chaudry, and Senator Anderson by himself. Each was allotted a maximum of five minutes to give a short speech on their qualifications for the position. Senator Anderson gave a particular saucy unprepared speech. Senator Kriscenski won with eleven votes, with each other candidate receiving four. Elections were done by a secret ballot.
Afterward on Item Five, open agenda, Senator Anderson motioned to congratulate Senator Kriscenski on his victory. President Akita also welcomed and congratulated the Senate on their first vote. Lastly, the Regional Campus Supervisor Andrew Morris from NYPIRG (New York Public Interest Research Group) raised the issues of the importance of voter registration on campus, and asked if anyone would be interested in obtaining additional information or volunteering.
The next Senate Meeting will be held next Tuesday, September the 11th, at 7:30pm. Meetings are open to the public.
Today was the annual Roth Regatta. To those of you who are unfamiliar with it, the idea is that you build a boat exclusively out of duct tape and cardboard, and then you have to race it against other boats. Usually each building, club, and department enters one. Of course, Wagner was there.
My RA, Kyle, and an the impromptu-entry of Kelly ended up crewing the boat, who's name was a bit ambiguous; but I think we went with Tumbleweed. I helped get some cardboard for the boat and do some of the physical construction. The boat ended up losing to three or four other vessels in the end.
Originally, another Wagner resident, Keri, was supposed to be in it but since we had class at the time it was scheduled neither of us could end up crewing it. Maybe next year.
There were some interesting designs there, though. The race can either have a speed or well-designed boat and many go all out. There was a turtle on a platform, a iceberg with a person dressed up as a polar bear by the environmental club, a bowl of ramen noodles, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle's van, and the Lesbian/Gay/Bi/transsexual multi-colored rainbow boat, with two crossed penis' and a skull with a boa wrapped around it's neck.
It was interesting, to say the least.
Earlier today, the election results were posted on the door of the USG Executive Suite, and yours truly was on there with 366 votes (The highest number of votes was the mid four hundreds, the lowest was about 200)! This, of course, means that I am now apart of Stony Brook's Undergraduate Student Government. I'm excited about the job, and would like to personally thank anyone who voted or supported me throughout my campaign for senate. I'll do my best to update my blog with information regarding the senate and student body as I get it. Also, to anyone who read my previous story Jeffery Akita was elected President of the Undergraduate USG. I'm still trying to secure an interview with him regarding the update of the story. I'll post it here when I get it.
Today a group of Chinese students gathered outside the Stony Brook Student Activity Center to apparently promote the Olympics. It was a bit surprising to see a a couple of tables and a large, bright red flag flying where a brass plaque reading "Many students, once voice" sat among flowers. The students wore white Olympic flags as capes and were busy hassling passer-byers with fliers. On the tables were cans of Coca-Cola and what I can only assume to be brownies to lure in stupid, fat Americans. Surrounding the table were pictures from the games - and China.
It's a bit dubious as to who is exactly funding them and their cape-wearing escapades, but I'm sure it's a huge waste of money.
I'm not quite sure what these Chinese students are hoping to accomplish here. The Olympics advertises itself, and if not the Olympics then protest over it and Tibet. Perhaps they were seeking to generate good press for China - however they forgot about one thing: Stony Brook University is the most politically and socially apathetic university there is.
Sorry Chinese students, maybe next time around.
- Update
5/2/2008
I have unconfirmed reports, from a reliable source, that the Chinese posters said something along the lines that protesting the Olympic games and/or protesting China is a hate crime in America.....what?
