SA Senate returns with new goals and new leadership
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Lucienne Burns | August 31, 2026
The Student Association (SA) Senate met for their first meeting of the year on Aug. 26, with 19 senators and new executive and legislative leadership present to discuss a range of topics and appoint nominees following summer break.
“As we begin this new session, we stand at a very pivotal moment here in the Student Association,” said Jaden Burke, the new chair of the senate, who who worked on efforts to overhaul the senate governing documents last year.
Burke spoke about the importance of beginning the year with a clean slate and a new outlook. She also announced that starting this year, the senate will host a meeting every other Wednesday instead of once per week.
“I also want to emphasize the importance of a fresh perspective this year, historical missteps or previous debates should inform our wisdom, not empty our potential,” Burke said.
Vice President of Student Enrollment and Affairs Dr. Michael Christakis welcomed the senate back and highlighted the large numbers student enrollment saw with the incoming freshman class and record-high applications.
“Our returning and continuing students, you all have also come back in very strong numbers, which is great. So, our retention numbers continue to grow as well,” said Christakis.
Christakis touched on how the higher enrollment numbers will be accommodated in residence halls, the Campus Center, and the classroom, but also discussed the summer renovations and changes to student dining.
Following construction and new dining initiatives, meal options in the Campus Center look different for returning students with changes in the way meal plans are structured, retail dining locations, and methods for mobile ordering.
Among issues senators discussed were the dining changes students have seen upon their return to campus, such as the change from Discount Dollars into Damien Bucks.
Senator Craig Brown expressed he had heard student concerns that the new pricing with the Damien Bucks system potentially costs more expensive than last year’s options.
Discount Dollars, a part of previous years’ meal plans, offered a 40% discount off the menu price for students with meal plans at Campus Center locations.
According to Aramark, The Damien Bucks system is meant to operate with more transparency, with students paying the price listed on the menu directly instead of a pre-discounted structure, the ASP previously reported.
In addition to campus center discussions, the meeting saw eight bills on the legislative agenda. All of the legislation passed, and the new appointments for the 2026-2027 academic year are as follows:
Jada Huffman, Senate Clerk
Raengel Farmer, Director of Academic and Civil Affairs
Nicholas Rodriguez, Director of Health and Environmental Wellness
Taylor Hill, Director of Student Group Affairs
Chloe Vazquez, Director of Intercultural Affairs
Noel Bond, Director of Gender and Sexuality
Taquan Saunders, Director of Marketing and Programming
Natasha Wick, Executive Assistant
As for executive leadership, the senate heard from their new president and vice president for the first time this academic year. President Ava-Rae Calloway and Vice President Anastacia Pulman reported planning and logistics on key events for SA, such as the end of year Parkfest, the upcoming block party, and Supreme Court nominations, which were a point of contention last year for the senate.
SA’s annual Block Party event will be taking place on Monday, Sept. 7 and the theme is a throwback to 2016 pop culture.
Leadership expressed excitement for what the new year will bring for the senate and the broader Student Association.
“Last year there were a lot of issues concerning accountability, and as I said before, I’m all about transparency, collaborations, and of course staying true to why we are in the positions we are in…. I hope that we can really turn this year around and make it a positive experience,” said Calloway.
Comments