68 file for SA elections

Mayor stays in to talk to citizens

Proposal is intended to encourage freshman participation in SA

By Craig Stewart
Daily Cougar Staff

A proposal is under consideration in the Students' Association Senate to create a Freshman Council, which would give frosh a chance to get involved with student government.

College of Business Sen. Richard Russell introduced legislation Jan. 26 calling for the creation of the council of five to 15 freshmen.

"The Freshman Council would be a vehicle to allow energetic volunteers who, at this point, have no leadership outlet to take an active role in here at UH," Russell said.

Selection of its members would be based on high school record, current course load, personal reputation, outstanding achievements, personality, leadership qualities, willingness to volunteer and interest in the freshman class and student body issues.

In the absence of such a council, freshmen who want leadership roles normally have to wait until the general SA elections in March of their first year.

Although the council's members would hold no voting rights in the SA Senate, the group would advise SA members on freshmen issues. This would allow the members to develop an understanding of the workings of the SA and would give them an invaluable background if they decided to run for an SA office in the future.

It would also place the freshmen in a position to be mentored by older, more experienced SA members.

The council would meet once a month, except in December, with members' terms ending in March -- presumably to coincide with the SA elections. The chair of the Freshman Council would be elected from within the council and, according to the proposal, "would regularly attend Senate meetings as the representative of the council."

The chair would also be responsible for making a special report to the Senate at its first meetings in November and February.

Members would also help SA executives with special projects, Russell said.

Russell said he hopes to cultivate interest in the council by introducing it to students during freshman orientation sessions and giving them a chance to sign up for participation.

Because the legislation would be an amendment to the SA Constitution, its passage will require a two-thirds majority vote of the Senate and a majority vote of the student body. If passed, it would be the first amendment to the SA Constitution.

The proposal is currently under review by a Senate internal committee. It is expected to be voted on at tonight's Senate meeting.