Lincoln Senate had a busy April agenda

LINCOLN – The Southeast Community College Student Senate convened for their first spring quarter meeting on April 2, 2012, beginning the first of many sessions meant to serve the students’ needs and wants.
Presiding over the senate is President Nate Smith and Vice President Candy Hemmer.  Other officers include Secretary Alex Prokop, Wellness Chair Ryan Krueger and Activities Chair Heidi Spier.
The senate meetings focused on many student related issues, including Student Appreciation Week and other events.
Spier went on to elaborate on Student Appreciation week, taking place from April 16th through April 20th.  “Monday the 16th we have wax hands from ten to two,” she began.
These events are part of the Student Appreciation Week at SCC.  “We’ll have root beer floats on Wednesday,” she continued.  “Friday we’ll have a prize wheel,” Spier finished.
Upon its completion, Spier reviewed Student Appreciation Week attendance.  She noted that 120 students arrived at the student center to get wax hands event,  530 arrived for the root beer floats and 366 arrived for the prize wheel game.
Fitness and Wellness Coordinator Carrie Heiser spoke on the Student Appreciation Week events held by the Wellness Committee.  She noted that the pancake breakfast brought in somewhere between 450 and 500 students, and the massage day brought 84 students for massages.
Other issues brought up by the senate were administrative in nature.
Automotive Technology representative Jacob Moore had requested that another bench be placed outside the east garage door of the automotive department.
Representative Levi Burrows agreed with the motion, voicing that the current bench set up has him sitting next to a smoking area.  Smith denied the motion, stating that “at this time, we will not spend senate money on benches.”
Moore also noted some frustrations with Automotive Technology graduates in their training.
“Our program isn’t long enough,” he began.  “We miss a lot of information.”
He continued, suggesting that the automotive department classes have to increase content to keep up with the current technology of automobiles.
“We could really make it a two year program,” he concluded.  The current Automotive Technology program runs for six quarters.  Other representatives agreed with the notion, citing similar concerns.
Smith spoke with Program Chair Ken Jefferson.  Jefferson would be responsible for speaking to Lincoln Campus Director Jeannette Volker to make changes to the program.  Smith will keep the senate updated.
Business and senate specific items were discussed throughout the quarter as well.
Smith informed the senate of upcoming senate officer elections.  Elections will be held on May 21st during the senate meeting.  Those elected will hold office beginning summer quarter and ending at the close of fall quarter.
Community service projects for senate members were proposed as well.  “We could help at the Day Care Carnival,” Spier proposed.  She stated that the event was to take place on Thursday, May 3 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Spier motioned that the senate take the day care carnival event as their quarterly community service project.  The motion was quickly seconded and passed without objection.
The senate also featured dialogue on the online student service, Smarthinking.  Smarthinking allows SCC students to submit writing to tutors for evaluation using the Essay Center.  It also provides up to five free hours of other services provided by Smarthinking.
Tutor Adam Hubrig represented Smarthinking and the Writing Center.
“The service is free to use as a student,” he noted.  “It’s found at Smarthinking.com, (with one ‘t’).”
“Your user name is ‘SCC,’ hyphen, and your SCC login.”  (Example: scc-jd000001)  “Your password is ‘southeast’ in all lowercase,” Hubrig commented.
“Students can also submit scholarship apps for review,” he noted.  He further commented that transfer applications for further education can also be reviewed before final submission.
Smarthinking can be found at http://www.smarthinking.com and is free to use for all SCC students.  If a student has problems using Smarthinking, they are encouraged to contact the Writing Center at 402-437-2627.
Senate meetings take place at 3:30 p.m. in the student center every Monday where classes are in session.  Members gain verified status with a 2.0 Grade Point Average minimum and recommendation from their program advisor.  Visitors are encouraged to attend.