The semester’s last meeting of Student Senate began at 6:05 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 7. The body passed multiple bills and was visited by the Student Health Service director.

Kim Frodl, the new director of Student Health Service, came to speak to the body. She assured senators that getting tested for COVID-19 is still open and safe for everyone. Frodl also said students would still be able to receive allergy shots and prescriptions on campus. 

“During the regular semester we are open from 8 in the morning to 4:30 p.m. We will have limited hours during the Winterim and Christmas Break,” Frodl said.

President Anna Ziebell then congratulated the senators on their work in putting forth legislation and being active as a body.

“I am so proud of each and everyone of you,” Ziebell said.

Warren Anderson, vice chancellor of equity, diversity and inclusivity, gave his final report of the semester. He congratulated the body on their work and wished everyone luck in the future.

“This was a very successful semester,” Anderson said. “You should all be very proud, I know I am.”

The body then introduced bill 64-B-3, which set the budgets for student organizations for the 2021-2022 academic year. The bill passed with a vote of 25-0-2, with Ziebell and Vice President Joe Murphy abstaining.

Afterwards, Senator Lauren Becker, director of the Student Office of Sustainability, introduced bill 64-B-4 to extend a contract between the university and Xcel Energy. The contract allows the university to purchase energy from Xcel that is produced through renewable sources. 

Currently, the university has a month-to-month contract with Xcel and the bill will seek to change the contract to a 7-year contract. This enables lower prices for the blocks of renewable energy the university can purchase.

The bill was passed with a vote of 24-0-2.

Finally, 64-R-17 was introduced by Senator Jaden Mikoulinskii, director of the Academic Affairs Commission. The bill showed formal support for a universal feedback period for professors. 

The goal of the bill is to push administration to adopt universal feedback or grading timeframes for the various departments in the university. 

Mikoulinskii said she received feedback from students, saying some professors have not graded assignments since September and that things have to change. The bill eventually passed with a vote of 24-0-2.

Kristof can be reached at [email protected].