After a week off for fall break, the Senate reconvened today in what will surely be seen as a slap in the face of Columbus Day and the Federal government. Do we send Italy a note of apology? MAMMA MIA!

In addition to the beloved cast of regulars occupying the gallery, the SA welcomed the heads of the Eastman School of Music Students’ Association: President Ashlee Bickley, Vice President Kathy Crabtree and Treasurer Brian Giebler. Also in attendance were three people who actually just wanted to see a Senate meeting (two of whom were lured in by aide Sumya Hasan). PROGRESS!

In a 45-minute round of discussion, the senators and respective SA administrations discussed how to improve bonds between campuses. Both groups seemed to get something out of it. For our part, we learned some things:

1. A violinmaker is known as a “luthier.”
2. Speaker Kierstin Hughes knows how to play the bassoon, which is genuinely impressive (double-reed and all).
3. Senator J.J. Gonzalez can play the euphonium. That is not to be confused with euphonia.
4. ESM groups can get funding from the River Campus SA, but none have applied. They should take advantage of that. And they should read CTQ, before they miss out on sweet music-related links.

Sen. Ryan Mills, the SA representative on SCAPE (Standing Committee on Alcohol Policy and Education/resident enemy of America, freedom, apple pie and Taylor Swift, depending on who you ask), notified the Senate that SCAPE recently discussed everything — except parental notification, event registration and off-campus registration. THAT WILL PLAY WELL TO THE RED STATES.

This week’s Sustainable SA member is Projects & Services Co-Chair Alissa Brill, who whipped her suitemates into line with filtered water and lower electricity usage. A-LEE-SA!

Dep. Speaker Dan Cohn finally got his sustainability prize, a little late.

No Jackets Required will be getting a little under $1,400 for a drum set, PA system and guitar amp. SA Treasurer Andrew — wait for it — FLACK! will also give them a firm talking-to about how to care for valuable equipment. Pep Band is starting to look pretty darn responsible, eh? PEP!

Remember when the New England Patriots lost the Super Bowl to Eli Manning’s New York Giants a couple years ago? How victory had seemed so inevitable for the perfect Tom Brady bunch? Well, Katie Bartolotta and Chris McCoy do. The pair runs the Political Science Undergraduate Council (PSUGC), which was to undergo a name change to incorporate the new IR major: Undergraduate Political Science/International Relations Council (UPSIRC). Policy and Review Committee had approved it, as did Senate. Then the SA discovered, post-motion, that the UPSIRC constitution did not follow the updated SA format, so they tacked on a motion stating UPSIRC had to re-format its constitution, re-appear before Policy and Review, then re-appear before the senate. In other words, every single person who sat on Policy and Review ostensibly failed to actually look at the PSUGC constitution before approving changes to it. DON’T LOOK BARTOLOTTA DIRECTLY IN THE EYES — SHE WILL ATTACK.

Sen. Bradley Halpern reported that additional bike racks would be acquired soon, and that a Walk for Light would be underway. Brill reported that students would have the opportunity to give feedback on taxis and that UR Transportation finally emptied its voicemail box, so you can leave messages again, which they will continue to ignore. TRUTH.

President Eric Weissmann reflected on the success, literal and spiritual, of Meliora Weekend 2009, and Hughes reminded senators about the trust given to them and urged them to remember why they’re there. CTQ remembers why it’s here: Awesome links.

Adjourned!