The Government of the Student Body is expanding some of its committees because of increased participation in the organization.

Efforts to make GSB more visible on campus and to increase participation within the organization have been made this year thanks to the encouragement of the executive branch and the Speaker of the Senate, Jonathan Turk, a junior in political science.

Daniel Fischer, GSB president and senior in agricultural business, said the Senate is very full this year. Therefore, there are plans to expand membership in other areas of GSB, such as the Public Relations Committee and the University Affairs Committee.

“The bylaws state that seven members plus one committee chair are allowed on [these committees], and we currently only have five members on each,” Turk said.

He noted how the addition of new members would help spread out GSB’s resources.

In addition to new potential members of the Public Relations Committee and University Affairs Committee, a new Inter-Residence Hall Association senator, election commissioner and secretary will be confirmed.

A number of projects will also be discussed, including the seating of a landlord liaison on the City Council, as well as funding other student endeavors, such as the Water-ski Club’s trip to Nationals.

However, Turk raised a concern at Wednesday’s Senate meeting: He noted the meeting ran short, only an hour long. He encouraged senators to talk with their constituents and find projects that might benefit them.

“I’m hoping senators go back to their constituents and find ideas of ways they can help,” Turk said. “I want to encourage senators to bring back these ideas and present them in front of senate.”

Fischer noted that every year GSB has “one or two meetings where there’s not enough on the agenda.”

He pointed out the senators are doing a lot of work aside from legislation.

“[Senators] are working with ISU police and are finding a lot of projects,” he said.

One of the big projects GSB is working on is continuing furniture updates in the Memorial Union. The organization plans to fund the addition of new furniture in the student office space.

Fischer said the Public Relations Committee has been productive in finding ways to make GSB more visible on campus by promoting the Iowa State vs. Nebraska tailgate and other endeavors, including a Meet Your Government Day.

“There’s a lot of participation this year,” he said.