The 52nd Session of the Student Association began to find its footing Monday night, focusing on planning for future events.
President Marlene Goldenberg stressed the importance of the Winter Carnival, which takes place the weekend of Feb. 21-24. Goldenberg said she hopes SA assembly members will form teams to compete in the carnival's various events.
"This is going to be a big deal and a lot of fun, guys," Goldenberg said. "Get excited."
After last week's tension and debate-filled meeting, the assembly was low-key and quiet all night as cabinet members set forth their agendas for the rest of the semester.
Greg Klotz, assistant director of on-campus affairs, outlined SA's plans for the Winter Carnival, plans for a shuttle service to major cities and investigating the revitalization of the Schine Student Center.
Klotz stressed the carnival events' prizes, which are funded by its $2,500 budget, to try to encourage assembly members to form teams.
"And it's important for us to get out there and represent SA," he said. "We need to get our name out there."
The shuttle service to major cities, which would begin next semester, is designed to bring students to major metropolitan areas during breaks. The initial plans call for shuttles to New York, Boston and Philadelphia, Klotz said.
The purpose of the service would be to transport students to places where it would be easier for them to get home. "Some of them live in these cities, and for the others, it would be cheaper for them to get home from there," Klotz said.
On the revitalization of Schine, Klotz cited growing concerns over lack of computers and computer space in Schine and the desire for better food options in the food court. Klotz said SA needed to set its focus on one issue to tackle.
"We're going to pick one and go after it and get it done," he said.
All legislation was passed with ease last Tuesday night after the assembly voted against Goldenberg's appointee for chief of staff and had to table a bill for rewrites last week.
For the third straight meeting, the assembly voted in a new member. Joemmy Ramirez, a junior in The College of Arts and Sciences, was voted into the assembly, 12-1.
Ramirez said her main reason for joining SA was to work on collaboration between organizations in on-campus events.
"I want to see integration instead of the same groups having events with the same groups," she said. "I think every organization is guilty of that. We tend to stick with what we know."
The assembly approved allocations of $9,458.49 from the special programming fund, leaving SA with $2,000 in the fund. Comptroller Sacha Forgenie said the amount is on par with past assemblies, and SA would be receiving $10,000-$20,000 in rollover funds from last semester in the coming weeks.
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