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.”
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