On Sunday evening, Student Council met for the first time this academic year to review upcoming plans, discuss the Business and Finance Committee (BFC) supplemental report and introduce an amendment to Article Six of the Student Council bylaws relating to BFC funding allocation.
Vice President for Student Life Taylor Womack ’24 announced that the process for starting a student organization has changed. It now includes an additional step, which requires students who would like to start an organization to meet with Womack and Director of Student Engagement Caleb Young before meeting with the Student Life Committee. The New Student Organization Application is currently open and will remain open until Oct. 4 at 11:59 p.m.
Safety and Wellness Committee Chairperson Madelin Vandeberg ’25 is working to schedule regular meetings with the Cox Health and Counseling Center, Fitness and Recreation Programming Coordinator Tiffany McCallen and the Office of Campus Safety. Vandeberg announced a new wellness program, Owl Be Outside, which awards points and monthly prizes to students who attend certain Kenyon-sponsored events. She also reminded the student body to check for emails from Campus Safety.
Kenyon Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Representative Sarah Molloy ’25 updated the Council on the Lowry Center’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement, which received support and signatures from Kenyon athletic teams. Molloy also announced that Special Olympics practices will begin in late October.
Social Board Representative Lynne Bush ’25 advertised the start of ‘Food Truck Fridays,’ where Social Board plans to bring a food truck to campus every third Friday of the month. This month it will be a popsicle truck.
Dean of Students Brian Janssen expanded on the administration’s approach to Homecoming this year, stating that the goal is to make the weekend special not only for returning alumni, but for current students as well. Homecoming events will include a block party on Sept. 30, Pizza Night in the Gund Commons Game Room and unique giveaways.
Vice President for Business and Finance Daniel Kowalczyk ’24 outlined the Aug. 28 BFC supplemental hearing, which had a total of 14 organizations request funding. Twelve requests were granted in full, with the exceptions of WKCO and Black Student Union (BSU). WKCO’s $4699 request for a compressor was deferred due to cost concerns, while BSU’s request was denied as they did not attend the hearing. The next supplemental hearing will be held on Sept. 11.
Kowalczyk also led the Council through the first reading of two proposed amendments to Article Six Section III of the Student Council bylaw concerning BFC event funding. The amendments would broaden which organizations can receive funding and remove the clause allowing debt forgiveness for student organizations, which Kowalczyk explained removes the incentive to repay BFC loans. The pre-existing bylaw enforcing mandatory payment plans would remain in place to prevent organizations from entering further debt. The Council will revisit these amendments next week before voting on their implementation.
The next Student Council meeting will be on Sept. 10.