The latest Student Congress (STUCO) meetings were held on Sept. 25 and Oct. 2 in the Perry Board Room. STUCO members have been dedicated to resolving cafeteria concerns and planning for future activities such as Stop Day, Student Appreciation Dinner or SAD, a possible student Reserve account and even activities for election week. Regarding the various concerns, STUCO’s committees have addressed the issues.
The Food Committee announced that the cafeteria doors will now remain open until 8 p.m. to accommodate athletic teams. They are also working on introducing new food and delivery options to the Tiger Den and addressing ongoing tech issues. Student Appreciation Dinner is also in the works. For now, the date remains sometime within November from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Along with that, the cafeteria will not be accepting swipes for fall break but instead will accept Doane dollars, and the ice cream machine will be fixed soon.
The Green Committee met with the Buildings and Grounds Crew, including with Professor of Environmental Science Russ Souchek and Assistant Director of Campus Engagement
Spencer Munson to discuss potential initiatives such as installing solar panels and switching to LED lighting. They are exploring the possibility of solar-powered campus lighting. The committee is seeking two more student representatives and will send out a form to gather ideas and input from the student body.
There’s also a Student Reserve Account in the works, which will be funded by student fees and opened for input from the student body. Once a year, STUCO reaches out for suggestions on how the funds should be used. An email will soon be sent to students with a form to gather ideas on allocating the reserve funds.
For the upcoming elections, Doane will hold a “Longest Table” event to foster civil discourse about politics. The event will take place on Oct. 28 and 29, from 12 to 1 p.m., during lunchtime. A second session is planned for Nov. 11 and 12 at the same time. STUCO will endorse the event and, on Nov. 5, host a voting celebration with “I Voted” stickers, pins and a trivia night.
Student Congress is also currently working on a website to keep students informed. The website will contain information about each member. Their old forms of social media will be updated or deleted depending on their relevance.
Several issues were raised during the meetings, including the inconvenience of locked bathrooms during the football game and ongoing hot water problems in Frees Hall, particularly on the first and third floors, where residents must turn on multiple faucets to get hot water. Additionally, concerns regarding the ventilation system in Frees Hall highlight the need for continued attention to campus facilities. STUCO remains committed to addressing these concerns and ensuring a more comfortable and accessible environment for all students.
