To say that it has been a calm year in Community Senate would be the biggest lie I have ever told, but I am more than OK with the eventful year we have had. Controversy breeds interest, and the interest in Senate is at the highest I have seen in my four years here. Controversy means that people are paying attention and care enough about the issues to take a stand on them.

When I started the year out, I knew that I would not always be liked. In fact, I hoped I wouldn’t be, because that would mean I wasn’t doing anything. Everyone agreeing with you means that you have done

something wrong.

This year, the Steering Committee has implemented a number of major changes. That they have not all been well-received is good. It means we had to hold forums

and listen to students. In the end, we came out with a better solution.

Now, enough of the theoretical stuff: what did your Community Senate actually do this year?

We started the year with 49 clubs on the books, six waiting for official status, and a by-law saying that our limit was 50.

During the Senate retreat, the executives decided that consolidation needed to

happen. Looking at the clubs, we found an overlap, but members of many of these clubs disagreed.

Some key decisions were made. Senate removed the clause, eliminated non-functioning clubs, and agreed on a new policy that helps new clubs start up. We

successfully helped Guilford clubs grow while maintaining their integrity without the need for consolidation.

Our next major debate was gender-blind housing. Senate supported this concept and passed a resolution requesting Campus Life to implement it.

The proposal has since been rejected by the Board of Trustees, though it was positively accepted by the Alumni Board at the beginning of the semester.

Though it won’t be further considered this year, this issue isn’t finished. In a couple of years, when future Guilford students come back to the Board of Trustees, they will be more open to hearing this proposal, having been exposed to it already.

I believe gender-blind housing will be a part of Guilford’s future, but I can’t say how long into the future.

Following that, an otherwise routine proposal came across the Senate e-mail. The GCCA requested money for a retreat. Little did we know the impact of this proposal on the entire Senate structure. If you’re reading this article, chances are you read the front-page story about this incident. I highlight it now because I must give credit where it is due. That incident forced Senate to look at itself.

From that experience, Adrienne Craig and I drafted a proposed new structure. Now Senate is divided into three branches that can allocate funding in order to free up time to spend on issues instead of simply being the bank. During the trial semester of this new structure, things around Community Senate have been relatively calm – which is still rather hectic.

As this is my last article as Senate President, I want to thank all those students who have gotten involved this year. I have had a fantastic year, and that wouldn’t have been possible without everyone who used their voice throughout it.