In the most recent gathering of Luther’s Student Senate, a flurry of announcements and initiatives set the stage for an eventful period of engagement and action. Among the highlights were plans for Happiness Week.
Happiness Week, scheduled for the week of May 5 through 11, promises a series of activities aimed at fostering positivity and well-being within the student body. The Senate is hosting a mixer to be held on Tuesday, May 7, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in Marty’s, providing an opportunity for students to collaborate and exchange ideas in a casual setting.
A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to an exercise led by Professors David Thompson and Jon Jensen, representatives from the Faculty Organization Committee, focusing on defining Luther’s core values. The Committee began this work in the fall by going to different groups at Luther, including students, faculty and staff, alumni, administration, and the Board of Regents, to see if together, as a community, we could articulate Luther’s core values. Professor Thompson explained the Committee’s reasoning for this initiative.
“We think there’s several good reasons, why we should do this, including to build a sense of shared identity, to be able to have a set of core principles that we can look at whenever we engage in project-based work, and many more reasons, but we’re excited about this work and I’m particularly excited that it’s coming to sort of culmination right now here at the end of the spring semester.”
Another key agenda item was a Student Work Ad Hoc Proposal presented by student Jasmine Elliott (‘24), centered on “reclaiming student voices.” Through interviews with student organizations and work studies, the proposal addressed concerns regarding wages and other aspects of student employment. Notably, there was a discussion about exploring unionization led by students, inspired by the success of similar initiatives at Grinnell College.
The proposed Student Union would provide students with a direct communication line to administration and the ability to negotiate wages through collective bargaining. The proposal outlined three main objectives: enhancing communication and support, empowering student voice and agency, and addressing compensation concerns regarding time and money.
“One of the main points for this presentation is looking at unionization and how students can have more of a voice,” Elliott said. “There’s feedback across the board but I think a main finding is that students generally feel like they’re not being heard by admin. So this proposal is thinking about how students can take the lead on student work.”
Seniors also received their graduation chords, adding a touch of anticipation to the academic year’s conclusion. Student Senate Secretary Hannah Roesler (‘25) gave a heartfelt send off for the seniors.
“I’m so excited to see what you guys are gonna do out in the great big world, because I really think that all of you have something special to offer and to bring out there and getting to work with the friends and users in this room has really been a joy and a pleasure,” Roesler said. “And I appreciate you guys and the work that you guys are doing. So keep it up, keep being brave, keep pushing the limits.”
Overall, the meeting reflected a proactive approach by Luther College’s Student Senate to address student concerns, foster community engagement, and advocate for meaningful change within the institution. With initiatives like the Student Union proposal gaining traction, students are poised to play a more active role in shaping their college experience and advocating for their interests.
The next Student Senate meeting is scheduled for May 7 at 9:45 a.m in the Mott-Borlaug room.
Editor’s Note: A previous version of the story printed in print and online misquoted Thompson as saying “a censorship identity” instead of “a sense of shared identity.” The quote was corrected on May 10, 2024 at 10:30 a.m.
