Student Senate withdrew support for Pick-A-Prof because of its new policy charging students for access and also discussed a push to complete a petition modifying the Athens Noise Ordinance at its meeting last night.
Members of senate plan to confront Athens City Council sometime this quarter to request a change in the current noise ordinance. They want it to require officers to warn students at least once before citing them for a violation. They also propose officers have a recorded phone call or filed noise complaint before they confront residents with a noise problem.
This has been an ongoing issue for senate since the ordinance began last year. Because of the fact that many students who have currently signed the petition may be graduating this spring, Senator of City and County Affairs Brian Footer stressed the need to complete the petition and address city council soon.
We're going to push this issue quickly and effectively
Footer said.
Another issue senate discussed at its meeting was a new $5 fee students must pay for access to Pick-A-Prof, a Web site that allows students to rate and see ratings of teachers and classes.
Senate voted to repeal its prior resolution in support of the site and to remove a link to Pick-A-Prof from the senate's homepage, until more information can be learned on the issue.
We are in no way saying that Pick-A-Prof is a horrible Web site said Linsey Pecikonis, senator of women's affairs.
According to an April 5 article in The Post, while most university student governments pick up this fee or negotiate with Pick-A-Prof, OU Student Senate has not. Out of 105, only 10 pay for the site, said Karen Bragg, director of university relations for Pick-A-Prof.
Anne Lombard, director of student activities, attended last night's meeting and urged senate members to apply for awards and scholarships for the 22nd annual OU Leadership Awards Ceremony June 1. A variety of awards are available to students and student organizations, including a $2,500 scholarship through the Division of Student Activities.
The deadline for all awards is April 29, Lombard said. She also recommended students consider applying for LeaderShape, a free leadership training program. Students will go to Burr Oak and Conference Center the week before Fall Quarter. It is a select program for about 60 students in leadership positions on campus, said Senate President Kristen Jensen, who attended the program before her junior year.
Because everyone was a leader in their own organizations I came back with 60 new personal friends and a new student network
Jensen said. It really helped to break me out of my shell and look at my abilities and leadership capabilities in a whole new way.
Students interested in LeaderShape or applying for any OU Leadership Awards should contact the Division of Student Activities at 204 Baker University Center Ballroom.
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Maggie Bushek
