Students Proposes Constitutional Amendments relating to the Elections Committee
A group of students, who had volunteered to draft constitutional amendments concerning the elections process, presented their proposed changes. They suggested Government Cabinet from the Elections Committee, except for the College Government President, the Secretary-treasurer and the CPLA (Committee for Political and Legislative Awareness) Chair. They also recommended adding representatives from the House President’s Council and Multicultural Presidents Council and reducing the number of student-at-large members. They also proposed modifying the mission statement of the EC to include outreach and engagement. In order to achieve these goals they proposed making the EC a year round body and having them meet in the fall semester.
These students also addressed the ongoing issue of eligibility and proposed that all candidates, aside from the Secretary-Treasurer and CGP, have experience on their respective committees before running for a position. For Multicultural Affairs Coordinator, it will be required that candidates have “strong ties to advocacy for multiculturalism at Wellesley College.” Several students at Senate inquired what this meant and who will decide if a student has “strong ties,” but the students proposing the changes did not have an answer.
Results of CG Poll presented
The results of the College Government mid-year poll were presented by a representative of the College Government President’s Council. The survey, which received 50 responses, examined how students received information and engaged with College Government (CG) as well as their opinions on transparency between CG and the student body. The survey found that the vast majority of students get information about CG from their organizations or via email. Several students suggested that CG become more active on social media, especially on Facebook. The results also showed a low level of satisfaction with CG and a common feeling that there is a lack of transparency, with average ratings of 6.16 and 5.92 out of 10, respectively. The survey also looked at CG’s town halls, which were introduced this year. About half of the responding students found them helpful, with the average effectiveness rating being 3.34 out of 5.
Senate Discusses Making the CG Constitution Gender Neutral
Changes to the College Constitution were proposed that would replace all of the references to gender in the Constitution with gender neutral pronouns, such as they and theirs. The College Government President pointed out that even if the College is not going to make its mission statement gender neutral, this change would be a step in showing student support for gender neutral language. One student questioned whether using they/their as catchall pronouns would be belittling the identity of non-binary people. A senator who uses they/them pronouns responded that they did not feel that it belittled their identity, but that they could not speak for all gender non-conforming people. These changes will be brought to House Councils and then voted on when Senate meets again in two weeks.
