In the 8th session of the 37th Senate meeting Monday evening, Kyle Washington, 20, a junior public relations student from Tallahassee expressed his disappointment with the senate for not being heavily involved in student and campus events.
Washington questioned the senate’s involvement with the FAMU student body.
He berated them because he said senators were not completely fulfilling their duties as a collective entity, and were not making an effort to identify themselves as senators when among the student body.
“How can I honestly trust and believe you all are truly leaders?” Washington asked. “Go out and speak to the students because most kids don’t even know we have a senate and a student government. You all were elected based on your platform, and that is the same platform you have neglected.”
Washington asked senators to be concerned with the whole student body, not just the freshman class.
He also said he was disappointed with only seeing two senators present at the protest that took place last Friday at the capitol after the verdict was announced in the Martin Lee Anderson case.
Following Washington’s address to the senate, freshman senator, Quintin Haynes, a political science student from Rockledge, announced that he and eight other freshman senators have volunteered to serve as temporary members of the safe team, which is an organization that escorts students late at night to their dorms or cars.
Senate President Mellori Lumpkin, 20, a junior business student from Bainbridge, Ga., applauded the senators for their initiative, but Lumpkin expressed some concern over the organization not having a staff yet.
“It’s a great idea, but I don’t want students to keep volunteering when funds have been allocated for an organization like that and I don’t understand why that organization is not set up yet,” Lumpkin said. “Campus security is an issue that our [school] administration should recognize.”
The senate meeting ended with announcements.
Sen. Elijah Bowdre, 21, a senior finance student from Long Beach, Calif. said the theme for this year’s homecoming concert is “The Set”. He also announced his new initiative for vending at the concert.
“Instead of vendors from who knows where in Florida and who knows where in Georgia and other people we don’t know selling to FAMU patrons, FAMU students will be vending at the concert,” Bowdre said.
He added that there would be no selling of bootleg CDs and no food can be sold.
“I’m all about making money for the University, and it just irks me that other vendors are being parasitic to FAMU,” Bowdre said.
Bowdre said there would be a 25 percent fee charged by the Leon County Civic Center for students who want to sell their merchandise inside the building.
Auditions for opening acts at the concert take place today in Lee Hall at 6:30 p.m. There will also be auditions held for the Coleman Library Talent Showcase Oct. 19 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Oct. 20 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sign-up sheets are still available in the Senate Chambers.
Friday, the Senate will also be having their “Senate on The Set Day,” where they hand out surveys to students to help address the questions and concerns of the student body.
For those who are interested in selling their own merchandise at the homecoming concert, contact Sen. Bowdre by e-mail at e.bowdre@g-mail.com.