Spring Break
Student Senate recognizes 500 Family, Students for a More Accessible Campus
Chris Curtis
Issue date: 11/13/08 Section: News
11/13/08 - The University of Rhode Island Student Senate voted last night to recognize two new student organizations.
The 500 Family was approved in a mixed vote following a brief discussion of the group's mission statement.
The goal of the 500 Family is to promote diversity on campus by closing the gap between broad and narrow interest groups through a variety of activities, including programming.
The senate shot down a bill calling for approval of the organization two weeks ago following protracted debate. Opposition to the group centered on whether its mission statement conflicted with senate bylaws.
The 500 Family returned to the table with a reworked mission statement and explanations of the benefits the group will provide to the URI community.
"For the past week, I have been thinking to myself, 'How does this organization negatively affect the community?' and if it doesn't negatively affect the community, the only thing that remains is to benefit," said sophomore Lowell Williams, the group's president.
Student Organization Advisory and Review Committee (SOARC) chairwoman Amanda Clarke explained the vote after the meeting.
"I just think people had a problem with specifics, very specific, their mission statement didn't really portray what they wanted to do and it was confusing to some people," Clarke said. "I think that the new one really encompasses what they want to do and it's a lot more clear."
A number of senators spoke on behalf of the group, including President Tom Ahrens.
"The point of the whole group is ... they want to help bring people together who in the past don't even feel appropriate having the conversation start," Ahrens said.
He added it is a service the university currently lacks.
The group was recognized as a Level III organization, meaning that it will not receive a regular senate budget, but will be eligible to apply for contingency grants.
The second organization to be recognized by the senate was the Students for a More Accessible Campus, or SFAMAC.
The 500 Family was approved in a mixed vote following a brief discussion of the group's mission statement.
The goal of the 500 Family is to promote diversity on campus by closing the gap between broad and narrow interest groups through a variety of activities, including programming.
The senate shot down a bill calling for approval of the organization two weeks ago following protracted debate. Opposition to the group centered on whether its mission statement conflicted with senate bylaws.
The 500 Family returned to the table with a reworked mission statement and explanations of the benefits the group will provide to the URI community.
"For the past week, I have been thinking to myself, 'How does this organization negatively affect the community?' and if it doesn't negatively affect the community, the only thing that remains is to benefit," said sophomore Lowell Williams, the group's president.
Student Organization Advisory and Review Committee (SOARC) chairwoman Amanda Clarke explained the vote after the meeting.
"I just think people had a problem with specifics, very specific, their mission statement didn't really portray what they wanted to do and it was confusing to some people," Clarke said. "I think that the new one really encompasses what they want to do and it's a lot more clear."
A number of senators spoke on behalf of the group, including President Tom Ahrens.
"The point of the whole group is ... they want to help bring people together who in the past don't even feel appropriate having the conversation start," Ahrens said.
He added it is a service the university currently lacks.
The group was recognized as a Level III organization, meaning that it will not receive a regular senate budget, but will be eligible to apply for contingency grants.
The second organization to be recognized by the senate was the Students for a More Accessible Campus, or SFAMAC.
