The Student Senate tackled staffing concerns this week, moving to suspend a portion of the Senate’s bylaws to aid in hiring a new Chief of Staff. 

The authors, Jaden Mikoulinskii and Justin Schilling, submitted Resolution 65-R-16 in hopes the Senate would be able to broaden its search to fill the position. 

The current bylaws state the Chief of Staff position must be held by someone who held an official Senate position in the previous session. As it stands right now, there are 10 Senators who meet this requirement, but only two who do not currently hold other executive positions in the Senate. 

This means only two Senators qualify for this position, neither of whom have shown interest. 

Mikoulinskii and Schilling — Student Body President and Vice President, respectively — wish to open the position to all members of the Senate in an effort to fill the position promptly, aiming to have a candidate in front of the Senate body by Nov. 22.

This resolution passed by a placard vote. 

The position is now open to all Student Senators. 

The Senate body also welcomed a candidate for the vacant Information and Technology Director Position. 

Stuart Scamehorn, a third-year comprehensive computer science and liberal arts history student, presented to the Senate with his qualifications and fielded questions from Senators.

The Senate body deliberated in closed session and Scamehorn was appointed to the Senate. 

The meeting adjourned at 8:03 p.m.

The Senate will reconvene at their standing general assembly meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 8, in the Ojibwe Ballroom. 

Kelley can be reached at [email protected].