60th Congress Adjourns for the Year

The 60th Student Congress met for the last time on Tuesday. Multiple pieces of legislation were passed, and the 61st Student Congress executive board took the oath of office.

The first piece of legislation addressed the student body's response to the new Core Curriculum proposals. 

"We evaluated the Faculty Senate's proposed Core Curriculum with a survey because we wanted to see how the student body felt," said Megan Bennett '10.

Based on the survey, it is evident that many students think there are too many hours devoted to DWC.

The survey shows that only 37 percent of students wished to take five classes their freshman year, but with this new model, taking five classes freshman year is optional. There was a lot of support of the survey and colloquia model for classroom structures.
The survey also shows that 77 percent of students want a course designated for cultural awareness. Student Congress suggested that models like Columbia University's one year Great Books Program should be considered as a possible pedagogy for DWC.
Eighty one percent of students think the Core Curriculum needs to be smaller and most believe that the new proposal offers more student choice in the core. 

"One of the main concerns with the core is that 75 percent of students feel there are too many credits devoted to theology and philosophy," said Bennett. "This topic is not addressed with the proposed core, and Student Congress believes it needs to be addressed."

Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., president of Providence College, has not yet signed off on the Faculty Senate's proposed Core Curriculum, and he will use this survey to evaluate whether he wants to sign off on the changes.

"It's important that we as Student Congress support a survey that represents the student body whether we as individuals support it or not," said Student Congress president, Andraya Pulaski '10.

Student Congress voted in support of the reform of the Core Curriculum.

The next piece of legislation passed by Student Congress was specifying that Student Congress membership should consist solely of undergraduate students.
The group believes this loophole in the Student Congress constitution currently poses no threats, but could have in the future if they did not clarify this detail.

The next piece of legislation passed by Student Congress was the implementation of a Committee on Outreach. This committee will connect Student Congress to internal and external facets of Providence College.

The committee will serve as a voice and organizing body for student events that improve connections between Providence College students and the neighboring community.
The next item of legislation addressed, dealt with the issue of increasing airport shuttle services. This piece of legislation was issued by the Class of 2012. Student Congress voted to modify the airport shuttle service by offering return trips to the college after official breaks.

"The logistics of this will be worked out next year in the fall around Thanksgiving break," said Kristen Pena '12. "Right now it's about getting the shuttles to offer this service."

The last piece of legislation passed by Student Congress asks that campus security more strictly enforce existing on-campus parking rules.

Although many Congress members felt this piece of legislation was too vague, the item was passed.

"I understand the concern about the vagueness, but we do often pass legislation that can be considered vague," said Elian Seidel '10. "I think in the interest of time, because this is our last meeting, this could be a potential stepping stone in the realm of student life. If we pass legislation like this it could be an initial push letting security know that we're getting on them about this. I do think this is a step in the right direction."

The last meeting of the 60th Student Congress concluded with the official induction of the 61st Student Congress executive board and a farewell speech made by Pulaski.

"We've achieved our basic goals and gone far beyond," said Pulaski. "Those of you who are leaving I'm confident that you will accomplish amazing feats and I honestly believe that some of the future leaders of our nation sit in this room."