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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 13, 1998)
Senate grievance table hears student concerns Students can voice their complaints directly to the Student Senate By Kristina Rudinskas Student Activities Reporter Some people don’t like to hear you complain. They don’t have the time or energy to deal with your problems. But the Student Senate grievance table is here to lend an open ear. “It’s really something people don’t utilize,” Senator Jenna Was son said. "Students don’t know the purpose of it. “ Students come’fo the table to till out a complaint form. Last term Senator Jeff Kershner re ceived about seven grievances from students. Concerns varied from classes and campus parking spaces to library hours and print ing fees, he explained. "It’s not guaranteed that we can fix it,” Senator Mike Price said. “We just have more avenues open to us.” The senators submit the re quests to ombudsman Tamir Kriegel, who distributes the com plaints to the appropriate senators. They have 30 days to act on them and contact the person who filed the complaint via e-mail or phone. "It’s important because people in the Senate need to know stu dents’ feelings on things," Senate Vice President Kent Black said. Each senator whose focus area is academic or athletic spends two hours a week at the grievance table. EMU and PFC Student Sen ators spend an hour a week at the tables. Only 5 percent of those dissatisfied file a complaint, but most never come to you, Price ex plained. The table’s location varies, but u Any student can come to any meeting and speak on a topic. Students have an opinion, and we want to hear it. Jenna Wasson Student senator it can usually be found in the EMU Lobby. Sometimes they move the table to high-profile places, such as in front of the bookstore or the dorms. The grievances give the Senate ammunition to take to the admin istration, Senator Michael Olson said. He received 15 requests last quarter and admits it is a slow, methodical process with no guar antee of a solution. "People will be upset about cer tain things and don’t see the Stu dent Senate as a place to deal with their problems,” Olson said. “As elected representatives of the stu dent body, it’s our obligation to be interested in the concerns we’re faced with.” Black and Kershner admitted that some grievances have been ridiculous. They recalled requests last year asking that a particular flavor of ice cream be served in the EMU; another student com plained about tight-fitting pants. The Senate can’t solve everything, but they will give it a shot. “The average student doesn’t know what we do,” Wasson said. “Any student can come to any meeting and speak on a topic. Stu dents have an opinion, and we want to hear it.” Can you keep a few... \ ' F.\ II It doesn't have to be dirty to be good. 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