The DePauw Student Government executive board, representatives chamber and senate chamber are discussing ways to improve the effectiveness of the chambers and improve communication with the community.
"The structural changes to [student government] will lead to an even more functional and efficient governing body for DePauw," said first-year senator Perrin Duncan.
The structural changes towards the senate, representative chambers and assembly meetings are geared towards updating and improving the sections of student government's constitution.
"I am interested to see what the structural changes will make the work student government does more visible to the student body," said junior Celia Klug. "I know they have been working on things but it isn't visible. I'm looking forward to see what changes they implement."
One visible change that will affect the student body includes the replacement of assembly meetings by 'student forums.' Student forums will be a space open to all students, but the attendance of senators, representatives and executive board is required.
The goal of these meetings is to allow senators and representatives to vote on legislation and provide both chambers and executive board the opportunity to present updates. The forum is aiming to be a voice for the student body.
The structure of the senate will mostly remain the same; however, the senate will now have standing committees that will improve the way student senators approach legislation.
"I feel like the new standing committees are going to help the student body with issues and combining that with the new PR position," said first-year Student Senator Charlie Douglas. "It allows students to know exactly who is specializing in the topics of their issues. It also allows [student government] to become better at what we do, by specializing in certain topics we will become better servicing students needs."
The student senators have already had temporary internal committees but now they are moving towards making the committees more concrete.
"I think there is confusion in the student body that the only thing we are working on is the changes to our structure," Perrin said, "but we are making other changes on campus."
If students want more information about the changes being made to student government, an assembly meeting in the Union Building Ballroom Sunday at 7 p.m.
