The GSB senate’s lack in of passed legislation this year was countered by an increase in initiatives and projects created by the GSB executive cabinet.

“The GSB senate has seen a decline in legislative activity this year compared to past years”, said Speaker of the GSB Senate Tony Luken, who is serving his second year on the senate.

T.J. Schneider, president of the Government of the Student Body, said he has also seen a change in GSB this year.

“I’ve seen a reversal in trends,” he said. “Usually the senate is extremely motivated and a majority of initiatives come from the senate, and the cabinet is on the back burner. This year, however, a lot of projects and bills that came before the senate were initiatives form the cabinet.”

Schneider said he is not saying the senate hasn’t been doing a good job this year. He said he has just noticed the cabinet has been more active.

Luken agrees the cabinet has done a lot of great things this year, and that their activity this year has been unbelievable.

“The cabinet has been a lot more effective than it has been in past years,” he said.

Schneider said he believes the reason for the cabinet’s increase in activity and its effectiveness is due to the freedom and flexibility that a cabinet position provides.

“A cabinet-level official has more freedom to do a lot. In the senate it takes a vote to get most things implemented, and a cabinet official doesn’t necessarily have to get a vote to get things done,” he said.

Nathan Johnson, off-campus senator, said GSB senators have exemplified their will to improve student life this year through the individual time and effort senators have put into student affairs. He said the senators have tried to improve matters in other ways than drafting legislation.

“It appears as though senate has done less than in the past, but in fact the senators themselves have done more,” Johnson said.

He said he does agree with Luken that the executive cabinet has been more active and effective this year. He said several members of the cabinet have done a great job in showing desire to improve student life.

The bills and projects gone before the senate that originated in cabinet include the Ames City Council ex officio student representative, which was completed by Director of Government Relations and President-Elect Mike Banasiak; revisions to the academic calendar were the responsibility of Director of Academic Affairs Heather Mitchell; and money for the colposcope, donated to Mary Greeley Medical Center, was also inspired by the cabinet.