The TCU Senate, which held its elections yesterday, has in the past faced an uphill battle against low turnout and attention to its policies, except for controversial matters such as the debates over the exemption policy for religious groups. While the results and turnout percentages for yesterday's election have yet to be released as this is being written, it's unlikely that the low turnout trend will have suddenly shifted. That being said, perhaps it is something that should, especially after the quality of work that the Senate has put in this past year.
While students may feel a certain level of detachment from the Senate's activities, many have partaken in the fruits of their policy initiatives. One standout, late night dining at the Commons Deli and Grill at the Campus Center, has been widely popular as an option on weekends for night owls, party hoppers or students who simply miss the early closing hours at Dewick and Carmichael. While the long-term results of the change have yet to be seen, certainly many students have appreciated it. Alongside the recent creation of the International Representative position to provide better representation for international students and the debate about opening up a pub on campus, it's clear that the Senate has been productive this year.
It's unfortunate, then, that so little attention is given to the Senate's activities, which carry real weight on campus for budgeting for clubs as well as policy initiatives. The prefix attached to the Senate, TCU, stands for Tufts Community Union, which, in theory, encompasses all undergraduates on campus. Interacting with the Senate by engaging in the relatively simple process of voting online is a small thing that can improve the policy outcomes from Senate decisions. Not only that, but voting on campus amounts to some extent to a civic duty ?turning Tufts Community Union from theory into practice. If our activities fees provide the funding for Senate budgeting for clubs, it makes that much more sense to engage in the process.
This past year's session of Senate activity has shown how Senate can make big changes on campus that affect a lot of students, and that trend looks likely to continue into next year as well. The Senate deserves recognition for its good work and further encouragement to continue its efforts, which includes increasing voter turnout. So next time you read about the Senate, recognize how much progress has been made and consider reading a little bit deeper into the details.
