The first ASUA Senate meeting each year is usually a transitional gathering. For the newly inaugurated senators, it will have a more serious tone.
The Associated Students of the University of Arizona will set a special election date for the fall during today’s shorthanded opener.
A Senate seat was left open when Rosie Reid-Correa resigned two days before inauguration April 29 to focus on her additional coursework from changing majors.
The special election must be held before Nov. 1, according to an ASUA bylaw.
It is not clear whether the new senator will have a tougher transition period, having missed out on a number of formal and informal events between now and the fall, said Sen. Jason Mighdoll.
“”We don’t know exactly how it’s going to work out,”” he said.
The current senators have no problem with taking a little more effort to help the newcomer adjust to the fast pace of the governing body, said Sen. Bryan Baker.
“”We’re just going to make them part of the team right away,”” he said.
As the senators take the seats they will fill for the next year, they are not alone in their conversion. The former senators held a meeting Friday with the incoming Senate to give encouragement and advice on how to effectively serve the UA students, said Sen. Gabby Ziccarelli.
“”They told us that you can be passionate about something, but you can’t lose control. We are there for the students,”” she said. “”Last year’s senators have been a huge help.””
Some senators’ transitions will be less difficult, as several of them have served ASUA in the past through programs like the Freshman Class Council. This familiarity with the student government system will allow senators to focus more on creating social and business connections with the rest of the Senate, Mighdoll said.
“”The bonding started during the elections, since we spent so much time together,”” he said. “”I can already tell we’re going to be very close.””
Ziccarelli wants to immediately begin improving the atmosphere of the Senate meetings by making the gatherings more public and student-friendly, she said.
This includes getting the word out on campus about the public status of the meetings, as well as supplying the media with more inclusive press releases, Ziccarelli and Mighdoll said.
The new senators showed their commitment shortly after election, as each of them immediately began work on their fall semester projects, a feat sometimes not seen of newly elected ASUA officials, said executive vice president Jessica Anderson.
Although they have had an abundance of interactions with current ASUA officials since the general elections in March, there is no telling what the senators will feel as they enter the meeting room for the first time, Baker said.
“”I think it’s just going to hit me full force,”” he said. “”We’re all very excited to get started.””
