Student Senate elections prolonged by slow voters

Student Senate ballots distributed this week admonished voters, "You can vote early, but not often." Senators needn't have worried; the vast majority of students haven't done either.

As of yesterday, the student voter numbers had been tabulated at slightly over 400 people, which senator senior Dan Persky noted was similar to past years' numbers.

"We are anticipating to get 20 percent by today," said Persky, "but if not, the elections could go to Sunday and beyond."

Last Sunday, the Senate convened to discuss election strategies and processes, orientation for incoming senators, as well as other topics relevant to student and faculty life.

"We should just go out there and get the vote," senator sophomore Aaron Slodounik said, regarding the option of dispatching a universally student -received note on the PINE e-mail system, which would flash a reminder to vote at the log-on of a user.

Regarding the electoral vote, the prominent topic of concern among the eight student senators in attendance was voter apathy.

The Senate by-laws state that an election may last five days or until 20 percent of the student vote is gathered, whichever lasts longer. It was the general feeling among the Senate, however, that the 20 percent of the vote, which equates to roughly 600 student ballots, should be obtained by Tuesday in order for the election to last until Friday.

To accomplish this goal, the senators proposed various grassroots techniques designed to stimulate and elicit a high degree of voter response across campus. Posting signs, delivering speeches at co-ops and classes with ballots were among adopted resolutions.

Advertising via e-mail never reached the Senate suggestion list, although voters are able to vote by accessing the ALPHA system.

The Senate also addressed the fate of Student Health after college physician Judith Appleton's retirement.

Senator junior Meg Willits calls bringing socialized health care to Oberlin her pet project. She hopes that the students would be given a referendum in which they would elect what health plan options they prefer. The college would then attempt to locate a satisfactory provider adhering to such student-prescribed guidelines.

A meeting of the faculty panel of Health Board advisors is scheduled for next week.

"It's simply a matter of looking for a match for what students want," said senator senior Josh Kaye of the new health plan.

Also of concern was the recent stir over paintings in the Allen Memorial Art Museum, some of which were allegedly stolen. The Senate agreed unanimously that Weissmann's interview in last week's Review resolved the topic, which they agreed was no longer an issue.

The issue of faculty charters was addressed, bringing to light that not all faculty committees have charters and are not all in one specific storage area.

Senators could not agree whether the Senate should independently compile charters for its exclusive use or have faculty charters instead submitted to departmental secretaries with the directions to re-submit to the Senate any future changes.

The charters themselves are designed to aid in effective appointing of students to faculty committees.

The issue was tabled until after elections are completed, with only the conclusion that "it is strange that the Senate [would] have this information, but the government structure of Oberlin wouldn't have this information about itself," senator senior Chapin Benninghoff said.

Changes in Senate by-laws were discussed but were not voted upon, tabled until the new senators arrive.

Such changes include the creation of meetings open only to executives, who would then discuss budget allocations. Normally, all Senate meetings are open to all students.

"I thought it was a good meeting; we got a lot done," said Persky.

The Senate also discussed new senator orientation at the Student Senate retreat this weekend, when the creation of advisory councils and the conducting of Senate officers will occur.

Students outside the Senate will also attend the retreat. Those serving in high-office advisory positions, such as the student assistant to the President, have been invited in effort for the Senate to create "contacts throughout the school," Benninghoff said.

Box o' ballots: One Obie votes for her favorite candidates. (photo by Laura Saslow)