St. Kate’s Senate governs from home
Despite the disruption caused by the spread of COVID-19, St. Kate’s Student Senate remains active as new and old leaders alike look to the future of the university and attempt to adjust to the new normal of life during quarantine.
Senate has kept busy during the months at home, posting content on social media and hosting virtual events. Senate’s weekly Tuesday meetings have continued through Google Meet, with students welcome to join and voice their concerns as they always have. Links to meetings can be found on the Senate Instagram page: @stkatessenate
One such event that went on as planned, albeit with online adjustments, is the annual Katies Go Green week, a celebration of Earth Day that took place from April 20 through the 24. This year, Senate offered an Earth Week Art Contest to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day.
Winners received a carbon offset donated in their name and the honor of their work being published on the St. Kate’s Earth Week website. Emily Sailors ‘22 (International Studies) took first place with a needlepoint rendition celebrating Earth Day. Darling Lee ‘22 (Fashion Merchandise and Business Administration minor) got second with a fashion-focused drawing.
Check out Sailors art, as well as the second through fourth place winners, at https://sites.google.com/stkate.edu/earthweek/earth-week-art-contest?authuser=0. The website also contains sustainability tips and information on how to get involved in protecting the planet through St. Kate’s resources.
A snapshot of Yangwaue’s original campaign flyer
In addition to Katies Go Green, Senate held elections for next year’s representatives early in April. Jasmin Yangwaue ‘21 (Political Science) was voted in as Senate President for the 2020-2021 school year, with Audrey Mutanhaurwa ‘22 (Economics) as Senate Chair.
As Yangwaue said in an Instagram spotlight on her current position as Organizational Affairs co-chair, “I joined Senate because I wanted to be a part of change and learn how to be a better leader on campus.” She then ran for President on the slogan: “Together, let’s be the change.”
“I like how hardworking Senate is in ensuring student voices are heard and that action is seen as well,” Mutanhaurwa said in her own spotlight of her current position as Financial Affairs chair. Her campaign for Senate Chair was focused on coming together, an especially important focus during these uncertain times.
The spotlights of current Senate members like Yangwaue and Mutanhaurwa is an ongoing project for Senate as the school year draws to a close, and they can be found on Senate’s Instagram and Facebook pages.
Other notable results from the election include the two new Commuter Senators, Malodi Yangwaue and Catherine Lilyerd. Both representatives ran on promises of improving resources for commuter students, and Lilyerd also expressed interest in expanding the focus of women led research at St. Kate’s.
Lastly, a change was made to the preamble in the Senate Constitution, voted in by an overwhelming 95.5 percent of votes from 288 people. The new preamble includes updated language regarding equality at St. Kate’s.
The preamble, along with the full results of the Spring 2020 elections, can be viewed with the spotlights on Senate’s social media pages.
