Senate
SENATE 2009-2010
 

 
The Senate is the smaller body of VSG’s bicameral system and is composed of six Senators and the four College Council Presidents. Senators are elected each spring by the entire student body and proportionately represent each of the four colleges with three Senators from the College of Arts & Science and one Senator each from the schools of Peabody, Blair, and Engineering. The Senate’s responsibilities include representing the best interests of the student body, voicing student concerns on issues academic affairs and residential life, and voting on all VSG resolutions. Each school Senator co-chairs a VSG committee, while each Council President chairs their college council. Each college council serves as the link between students and deans in their respective schools and pursues initiatives related to the needs of their college.

These ten voting members are presided over by the Speaker of the Senate, a member of the Executive Board who was elected out of the members of the Senate of the prior year. The Speaker of the Senate also serves as the co-chair for the Organizational Relations Committee.

All VSG resolutions must be passed by both the Senate and the House and must be sponsored by a member of the chamber in which it is presented. 

The Senate convenes biweekly on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm in the Board of Trust Room of the Student Life Center and all meetings are open to the entire student body.  Meetings include debate on resolutions, round table discussions of important campus issues, VSG initiative updates, and guest speakers from Vanderbilt administrative offices who provide insight into various University policies, issues, and services.  Five minutes is reserved at the beginning of each meeting for any student to voice to their VSG representatives any concerns, ideas, or announcements they may have.
 
Speaker of the Senate Aysha Malik
 
College of Arts and Science Senators
Josh Sirchio, Senior
Tommy Obenchain, Junior
Maria Crist, Sophomore
 
Peabody College Senator
Kate Goudge, Sophomore
 
College of Engineering Senator
Andrew Morse, Junior
 
Blair School of Music Senator
Tommy Crespo, Senior
 
 
College Council Presidents
 
Arts and Science John Gaffney
Peabody Jane Slatton
Engineering Lauren Nicols
Blair Jordan Holland