Student Senate reconvened on Monday to address new business and tie up loose ends remaining from before spring break. To open this week’s meeting, President Eli Caywood forwarded two concerns that students voiced to him through e-mails. To address the concern regarding the issuance of tickets for this spring’s commencement ceremony, Senate will work with the Chancellor and Commencement Committee to articulate student concerns. Senate also heard a complaint from a student who found it unfair that students are not reimbursed if they do not spend the total $25 campus printing allowance. Caywood will conduct historical research about the policy and speak with OIT director Eric Matola about the passage of the policy.

Senate then heard from Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Michael Viney, who brought into question the effectiveness of the campus-wide smoking ban that was passed in the fall of 2007.

“This policy has been an issue for us ever since it was passed,” Viney said. “It was implemented as a voluntary policy that relies on us to monitor ourselves and advise others, but the reality of that is very difficult and challenging.”

Viney said that at the time of the policy’s passage, removal of the cigarette containers around campus made sense, but their removal, along with a lack of enforceable consequences for smoking on campus, has led to widespread littering of cigarettes around campus.

“We have been trying to make this a more inviting campus,” Caywood said. “However, [cigarette butts] littered throughout campus is the exact opposite of that idea.”

Senate will return next week with alternative solutions to the ban, with more discussion to follow.

Senate also discussed a referendum be added to the spring election ballot that would request input from the student body on joining the United Council of UW Students. A yes-vote on the spring referendum would commit UW-P to a two-year membership in the UC, which entails a refundable $2 fee per student. According to their Web site, United Council’s mission is to “represent all students of the University of Wisconsin System and advocate for them on issues of higher education pertaining to value, quality and student experience.” UW-P elected to leave the organization in 2006, which Vice President Cody Camacho attributed to incompetence and a failure to fulfill duties on behalf of UC. Camacho also said that since 2006, UC has fixed its problems and that UW-P should renew their membership with the organization.

“We have the opportunity to help fund and direct a lobbying group that has been working for students since the 1960s,” Caywood said. “We will be able to directly engage lobbyists that will be able to work to ensure that UW System students get the most affordable education possible.”

Caywood also advised students to pay attention to campus media sources in the next few weeks, where information about UC membership will be provided.