Student Government swore in three new senators, approved several club funding requests and sat members to various committees during Wednesday night’s Senate meeting. 

Sen. Danial Shamsaei, a doctoral candidate in analytical chemistry, was sworn in as Schilletter and University Village  Senator.

Sen. Kevin O’Connor, a sophomore in chemical engineering, was sworn in as College of Engineering Senator.

Sen. Claire Hartley, a freshman in political science, was sworn in as Residence Hall Senator, representing on-campus residence halls residents.

When asked what goals she had in mind, Hartley said accessibility issues were the first problem she noticed when she first moved into Welch Hall.

“One thing I noticed almost immediately after moving into Birch-Welch-Roberts is the accessibility issue,” Hartley said.“It really bothers me that our elevator is an empty shaft, as well as a wheelchair cannot get into our building in any shape, way or form. It genuinely bothers me that we have an accessible bathroom stall on the fourth floor, but no way to get there.”

Sen. Noah Kammeyer, a sophomore in political science, was appointed to the Student Fees and Tuition Committee by a vote of 10-3-2. The Student Fees and Tuition Committee considers student activity fees on campus that are added to tuition every semester. The role must hold confidentiality due to the committee overlooking students’ tuition and finances. The other candidate was Sen. Hemanthsai Peddasani, a sophomore in computer engineering. 

When asked a question regarding international students’ fees being slightly higher than out-of-state and in-state students, Kammeyer said he plans to ask the committee why those fees are larger and try to reduce the fees so they are in unison with out-of-state and in-state student fees. 

“The technology fee, which is $192 a semester, is about twenty to fifty dollars more for international students,”  Kammeyer said.  “As a part of the committee, one of the first things I would do is ask why the fees are different from in-state and out-of-state, which are pretty uniform. I would like to share the value of equity and having international fees be even with out-of-state and in-state fees, but if that’s not a possibility, I would, of course, ask questions and figure out why this is a problem in the first place.”

Other business

The Senate approved $1,675.22 in funding for the women’s softball club, as they did not receive any funding from the annual allocations process at the beginning of the semester.

The Iowa State blood drive also requested sponsorship and funding of $6,149 from the Senate. The approved funding will cover Stephens Auditorium’s rental fees, administrative costs, and event labor. The fall 2024 blood drive will occur at Stephens Auditorium from Oct. 7 to 10.

Additionally, the Iowa State equestrian club hunt team received $6,205.33 in funding. The funds will cover facility, equipment and transportation fees to host a show off-campus, as Iowa State University lacks adequate facilities or equipment.

Sen. Lucky Onyekwelu-Udoka, a first-year graduate student in computer engineering, was seated as an at-large member of the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Committee. The committee initiates projects such as the annual multicultural town hall.  

Sen. Ella Aiono-Dimoff, a junior in political science, and Clair Lewis, a freshman in political science, were seated as at-large members of the local affairs committee. The local affairs committee works to connect students with the Ames community and local government. 

Additionally, the following students were confirmed as at-large sustainability committee members. The sustainability committee works to initiate environmentally safe and friendly projects around campus:

• Gracie Snyder, a freshman in environmental science
• Nick Michel, a sophomore in landscape architecture
• Serena Rife, a freshman in environmental science
• Felicity Crowe, a freshman in environmental science

The next Senate meeting will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Memorial Union Campanile Room.