US-RUn-rcg124.1 Guide to the Records of the University of Rhode Island Student Senate 1957-1988 Finding aid prepared by Dr. Kevin J. Logan. University of Rhode Island Library, Special Collections and Archives 2003
15 Lippitt RoadKingston, RI 02881-2011Tel: 401-874-4632email: archives@etal.uri.eduWebsite: http://www.uri.edu/library/special_collections/
 Finding aid encoded by Yuan Li 2007 November 06, updated by Erin C. Mullen on 2012 March 12 English Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) English Special Collections and University Archives
15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011 Tel: 401-874-4632 email: archives@etal.uri.edu
 University of Rhode Island. Student Senate Records of the University of Rhode Island Student Senate 1957-1988 67 box(es) (33.5 linear feet) Contains the records of the University of Rhode Island Student Senate from 1957 to 1988, with the bulk of materials dating from the early 1960s to the early 1980s. Rec. Gr. 124.1 Historical note

The Student Senate of the University of Rhode Island was established in 1941, with its first elections taking place in the spring of that year. Prior to that date, there had been a weak student government organization known as the Sachems. Created in 1932, the Sachems was an organization composed entirely of fifteen members of the senior class who became eligible for membership by scoring points based on a complex scoring system which awarded points for scholarship and for participation in a lengthy list of student activities. Its constitution was vague and its powers were limited to "the adjudication and control of student matters which do not properly belong in the realm of faculty control, and the voice of student opinion in limiting such faculty control." In practice, the Sachems did little more than oversee the enforcement of freshman rules and run officially recognized college dances.

Apparently realizing that it was a powerless organization and spurred on by a series of editorials in the student newspaper, The Beacon, a group of Sachems in early 1941 drafted a constitution which would create a more representative and powerful student government able to exercise some control over student activities and to have at least an advisory role in university governance. The draft constitution was presented to the student body and was overwhelmingly approved in April, 1941. Elections for the Student Senate were held the following week and the Student Senate met for the first time on Tuesday, April 29, 1941. The Senate modified the draft constitution in several respects and it was presented to the student body again in May. Again it was overwhelmingly endorsed and student government was a reality on the Kingston campus. The Student Senate has been a continuing presence on campus since that spring day in 1941.

As the Student Senate grew in influence over the years, the influence of other student governing organizations declined proportionately to the point where organizations such as the Sachems and the Women's Student Government Association no longer served a purpose and were dissolved in the early 1960's. The University administration also began to recognize the potential for the Senate to play a role in university governance by opening positions on university-wide committees to student senators whose appointments were made by the president of the Student Senate. Most university-wide committees have student representation as a matter of course today, but it was considered a revolutionary concept when first implemented in the late 1940's.

The power of the Student Senate increased dramatically in 1963 when the Student Activities Tax Committee, previously composed of students from several student organizations, became an arm of the Student Senate. With this change, the Senate gained almost complete control of the revenues of the six figure student activity tax. All student organizations seeking funds had to appear before the Tax Committee and justify their requests for allocations from the activities tax. Since then, the Tax Committee has served as a demanding but fair steward of the funds entrusted to its care. The Tax Committee was renamed the Finance Committee in the fall of 1987.

Though the Student Senate has not been without its critics over the years, as a 1970 referendum calling for its abolition would attest, it has generally served the student body well. Its biggest problem, and one that it has yet to solve, is that of student apathy. Rarely do more than fifteen per cent of the eligible student voters participate in Student Senate elections and frequently fewer than ten per cent participate. Consequently, the Senate does not appear to enjoy broad based student support. It is an issue which faces many student organizations on college campuses.

Any qualified person doing scholarly research is permitted to use material housed in the Special Collections Unit.

Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication.

 Preferred Citation

Records of the University of Rhode Island Student Senate, Rec. Gr. 124.1, University of Rhode Island.

 Scope and Content Note

The records contained herein are those of the University of Rhode Island Student Senate. Though comprehensive, the records are incomplete. No records of the Senate's early activities from that early period are extant. The bulk of the records transferred to Special Collections span the period from the early 1960's to the early 1980's with the earliest document dated 1957. Thus, the documentation from the formative years of the Senate are not available to researchers and must be presumed lost.

The records provide a rich vein to be mined by researchers interested in student activism, the role of student government in university governance, and the general area of student concerns in so far as a student government can be said to be representative of a university student body.

Arrangement

The collection has been arranged into six series as follows: 1. Subject File 2. Tax Committee 3. Committees 4. Agenda and Minutes 5. Legislation 6. Chronological File

Acquisitions Information

The original accession was transferred to the Special Collections Department of the University of Rhode Island Library during the summer of 1987 from the Senate office in the Memorial Union.

 Custodial History

The materials were held in the Senate office in the Memorial Union before 1987. The materials had been stored in file cabinets and are in good to excellent condition.

 Names University of Rhode Island. Student Senate Subjects

RIAMCO Browsing Terms Education Inventory Series 1 Subject File1963-1985

The Subject File consists of materials relating to the administration and operation of the University of Rhode Island Student Senate and the concerns of the student body it represents. Included are correspondence, memos, reports, programs, and minutes of meetings, which reflect the many issues handled by the Student Senate.

The records contained in this series divide themselves roughly into two broad categories: those issues of perennial concern which span generations of students and those issues which, while of paramount importance to one generation of students, become for a variety of reasons non-issues to later generations. Among the former are such issues as curriculum, grading systems, tuition, issues of University budgets, dining services and the parking problem on campus. Among the latter are issues of the draft, the Vietnam War, alcohol on campus, curfew for women students, and coed dormitories.

Student concerns over curricular issues, tuition, and University budgets can be found in the appropriately labeled folders, as well as in those labeled "Faculty Senate" and "Board of Governors." Student views on the methods by which student course work is evaluated is reflected in those folders labeled "Marking Systems."

Issues peculiar or more important to a particular era include the eighteen year old vote, the draft, the ecology movement, and coed dormitories. Though of major importance at one time, these issues no longer command attention because the problems which brought them to student attention have been solved or because they have been superseded by other concerns. The materials represented in these categories are significant because they reflect, in microcosm, universal student concerns at a given moment in time.

The Subject File is arranged alphabetically by subject and chronologically within folders.

1 1 1977 Academic Calendar: Surveys Conducted 1977 1 2 1971-1977 Apr Academic Standards and Calendar Committee 1 3 1977 May-1981 Academic Standards and Calendar Committee 1 4 1982, 1986 Academic Standards and Calendar Committee 1 5 1959-1972 Activities Fees 1 6 1973-1976 Activities Fees 1 7 1977-1984, 1987 Activities Fees 2 8 1979-1981 Activities Fees: Legal Considerations 2 9 1979-1981 Activities Fees: Other Schools 2 10 n.d. Activities Fees Miscellaneous 2 11 1976-1984 Alcohol/Drinking Age 2 12 1976-1982 Aug Alumni Association 2 13 1982 Sep-1983 Mar Alumni Association 2 14 1983 Apr-Dec Alumni Association 2 15 1967-1979 Aug American Association of University Professors 2 16 1979 Sep 04-18 American Association of University Professors 2 17 1979 Sep 19-30 American Association of University Professors 2 18 1979 Oct-1981 American Association of University Professors 3 19 1961, 1965, 1969-1970 May American Civil Liberties Union 3 20 1970-1974 American Civil Liberties Union 3 21 1969-1970 American Council on Education 3 22 1981 American Student Association Convention 3 23 1982 American Student Association Convention 3 24 1983 American Student Association Convention 3 25 1967-1970 Anti-Corporate Work 3 26 1966-1975 Arts Council 4 27 1976 Arts Council 4 28 1974-1981 Oct Association of Rhode Island Students 4 29 1981 Nov-Dec Association of Rhode Island Students 4 30 1971-1972 Association of Student Governments 4 31 1971-1974 Athletic Advisory Council 4 32 1975 Feb-Oct Athletic Advisory Council 4 33 1976 Athletic Advisory Council 4 34 1964-1968 Athletic Council 5 35 1969 Jan-Nov Athletic Council 5 36 1969 Dec-1970 Feb Athletic Council 5 37 1970 Mar-May 22 Athletic Council 5 38 1970 May 25-Jul Athletic Council 5 39 1970 Aug-Nov Athletic Council 6 40 1970 Dec Athletic Council 6 41 1971 Jan-Apr Athletic Council 6 42 1971 May-1973 Athletic Council 6 43 1981 Athletic Director: Search Committee 6 44 1981 Athletics 7 45 1969-1974 Athletics: Budget Information 7 46 1965-1973 Athletics: Constitutions and By-Laws 7 47 1965-1974 Athletics: Reports and Recommendations 7 48 1979 Jan-Jun Auxiliary Enterprises 7 49 1979 Jul-1981 Auxiliary Enterprises 7 50 1982-1983 Auxiliary Enterprises: Peat, Marwick, Mitchell Company Management Report 7 51 1968-1972 B.A. Curriculum: Study of 8 52 1977-1985 Bi-Weekly Pay 8 53 1969 Black Panthers 8 54 1972-1973 Board of Regents Minutes 8 55 1974 Jan-Mar Board of Regents Minutes 8 56 1974 Apr-May Board of Regents Minutes 8 57 1974 Jun-Dec Board of Regents Minutes 8 58 1976 Board of Regents Minutes 8 59 1977 Board of Regents Minutes 9 60 1978 Board of Regents Minutes 9 61 1979 Board of Regents Minutes 9 62 1980-1981 Board of Regents Minutes 9 63 1982-1983 Board of Regents Minutes 9 64 1973-1978 Board of Regents Presentations 9 65 1979-1981 Board of Regents Presentations 9 66 1982 Board of Regents Presentations 9 67 1978 Bond Issue 9 68 1979 Bottle Bill 9 69 1976-1977 Budget Advisory Committee 10 70 1977-1979, 1982-1983 Budget Advisory Committee 10 71 1978-1982 Budget Guidelines 10 72 1975-1977 Budget Task Force 10 73 1972, 1975 Building Use Policy 10 74 1978, 1980 Business Administration, College of 10 75 1972-1985 Calendar 10 76 1974-1979 Campus Planning Coordination Committee 10 77 1974, 1976, 1978 Career Planning and Placement 11 78 1971-1974 Chronicle of Higher Education and Intercollegiate Press Bulletins 11 79 1977-1978 Circle K International 11 80 1970-1971 Clearinghouse (U Mass) 11 81 1974-1977 Collective Bargaining 11 82 1978 College Board 11 83 1972 College Democrats 11 84 1978-1979, 1984 Commencement Committee 11 85 1975-1977 Jun Commission Undergraduate Education 11 86 1977 Jun-1978 Commission Undergraduate Education 11 87 1969-1972 Commissioner of Education 11 88 1978-1979 Commuting 11 88a n.d. Computers TRS-80 12 89 1979 Conferences 12 90 1972-1974 Congressional Education Information 12 91 1963-1985 scattered dates Constitution and By-Laws 12 91a 1987-1992 scattered dates Constitution and By-Laws 12 91b 1982-1985 Constitutions: Student Clubs 12 92 1971-1982 Contracts, Agreements, etc. 12 93 1982-1984 Contracts, Agreements, etc. 12 94 1967-1982 scattered dates Controversial Persons 12 95 1978-1982 Convocation Committee 12 96 1977 Apr-Sep Curricular Affairs 12 97 1977 Oct Curricular Affairs 12 98 1977 Nov Curricular Affairs 13 99 1977 Dec Curricular Affairs 13 100 1978 Jan-Feb Curricular Affairs 13 101 1978 Mar-Dec Curricular Affairs 13 102 1965-1967 Departmental Curriculum Planning 13 102a 1983-1984 Declaration of Candidacy 13 103 1977-1980 Sep Development Council 13 104 1980 Oct-1982 Development Council 13 105 1983 Development Council 13 106 1976-1977, 1979 Dining Services 13 107 1972-1976, 1979, 1982-1983 Dirigible Composing 13 108 1980 Dorm Security 14 109 1969 Feb-Oct Draft-Youth Advisory Committee to the Selective Service System in Rhode Island 14 110 1969 Nov-Dec Draft-Youth Advisory Committee to the Selective Service System in Rhode Island 14 111 1970 Jan-Jun Draft-Youth Advisory Committee Concerning Student Deferments 14 112 1970 Jul-Dec Draft-Youth Advisory Committee Concerning Volunteer Army Debate 14 113 1971-1975 Draft-Youth Advisory Committee Supports Repealing the Draft 14 114 1970 Draft Repeal 14 115 1969-1970 Ecology 15 116 1975 Ecology 15 117 1969-1970 Educational Reform 15 118 1964-1968 Feb 15 Eighteen Year Old Voters 15 119 1968 Feb 19-1970 Eighteen Year Old Voters 15 120 1971 Jul, n.d. Eighteen Year Old Voters 15 121 n.d. Eighteen Year Old Voters 15 121a 1981-1984 Elections: Policies and Procedures 16 122 1974-1975, 1983 Enrollment and Retention 16 123 1971-1972 Escape Project 16 124 1983 Evaluations - Attorney 16 125 1969-1972 Evaluations - Course/Faculty 16 126 1973-1981 Evaluations - Course/Faculty 16 127 n.d. Evaluations - Course/Faculty 16 128 1971-1982 Evaluations - Other Schools 16 129 1969-1983 Executive Systems 16 130 1977-1979 External Affairs 16 131 1966-1969 Faculty Advisor System 16 132 1972 Nov Faculty Freeze 16 133 1972 Nov-Dec Faculty Freeze 17 134 1971-1972 Faculty Senate Agenda 17 135 1974-1975 Faculty Senate Agenda 17 136 1976 Faculty Senate Agenda and Minutes 17 137 1977 Faculty Senate Agenda and Minutes 17 138 1978 Faculty Senate Agenda and Minutes 17 138 1979 Faculty Senate Agenda and Minutes 17 140 1980 Faculty Senate Agenda and Minutes 17 141 1981 Faculty Senate Agenda and Minutes 18 142 1982 Faculty Senate Agenda and Minutes 18 143 1983 Faculty Senate Agenda and Minutes 18 144 1964-1985 Faculty Senate/Student Senate Correspondence 18 145 1980 Family Day 18 146 n.d. Film Catalogues 18 146a 1976-1980 Financial Aid 18 147 1981-1982 Financial Aid 18 148 1984, n.d. Financial Aid 18 149 1983 Food Co-op 18 150 n.d. Food Stamp Information 18 151 1974-1976 Football 18 152 1967-1969 Foreign Students 19 153 1974-1984 Freshman Orientation Workshops 19 154 1974, 1978-1979 General Assembly 19 155 1975-1977 General Education 19 156 1978 General Education 19 157 1977 General Education Conference: Finkelstein Lectures 19 158 1966, 1968 Governance 19 159 1969 Governance 19 160 1970 Governance 20 161 1966, 1968-1970, 1980-1982 Grading System Proposals 20 162 1972-1985 scattered dates Graduate Students 20 163 1973 Grape Boycott 20 164 1983-1984 The Greenhouse Compact 20 165 1983-1984 The Greenhouse Compact 20 166 1978-1979 Gripe Forum 20 167 1977 Handicapped Students 20 168 1970-1973 Health Services Advisory Council 21 169 1974-1978 Health Services Advisory Council 21 170 1978-1979 Health Services 21 171 1973 Help Communities Help Themselves Program 21 172 1977-1983 Honors Program 21 173 1973-1979 Housing 21 174 1974 Housing Committee 21 175 1979 Oct Human Sciences and Services: B.S. 21 176 1981 Instructional Development Program 21 177 1976 Intercession 21 178 1965-1971 scattered dates Interfraternity Council 21 179 1971-1972 Internal Correspondence 21 180 1963-1966 International Student Conference 22 181 1967 International Student Conference 22 182 1968-1978 Intramurals 22 183 1981 Jewish High Holidays 22 184 1975-1980 Job Descriptions: University Employees 22 185 1967-1977 Apr Joint Educational Policy Committee 22 186 1977 May-Oct Joint Educational Policy Committee 22 187 1977 Nov-Dec Joint Educational Policy Committee 22 188 1978 Jan-Jun Joint Educational Policy Committee 22 189 1978 Sep-1979 Joint Educational Policy Committee 23 190 1980 Joint Educational Policy Committee 23 191 1981 Joint Educational Policy Committee 23 192 1962-1967, 1971, 1983 Judicial System 23 193 1985, n.d. Judicial System 23 194 1980-1983 Kingston Student Services 23 195 1984 Kingston Student Services 23 196 1970, 1981, n.d. Legal Counsel and Student Governments 23 197 1978 Legislators' Day 23 198 1977-1978 Letterhead 23 199 1979 Letterhead 24 200 1980-1981 Letterhead 24 201 1966-1968 Library 24 202 1982 Library Fundraiser 24 203 1983 Library Fundraiser 24 204 1984 Library Fundraiser 24 205 1969-1970 Licht, Governor Frank 24 206 1971 Licht, Governor Frank 24 207 1979, 1984 Lighting Plan: Kingston Campus 24 207a 1977-1980 Miscellaneous Lists 24 207b 1981-1984 Miscellaneous Lists 24 208 1972 Little Brother/Little Sister Association 24 209 1973-1975, 1985 Mackal Forum 25 210 1966-1967 Marking System 25 211 1968 Marking System 25 212 1970 Marking System 25 213 1971 Marking System 25 214 1972-1974, 1983 Media: Campus 25 214a 1982 Meet the Candidate Program 25 214b 1980-1985 Member-at-Large 25 215 1965-1973 scattered dates Memorial Union: Reservations, Requests 25 216 1977-1979 Memorial Union 25 217 1980, 1982-1984 Memorial Union 26 218 1975-1977 Merit System Law 26 219 1973-1978 Mini Courses 26 220 1980 Mar Model of the United Nations 26 221 1981-1982 Mortar Board 26 222 1975-1977 National Association for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) 26 223 1972-1973 National Student Exchange Program 26 224 1974 National Student Exchange Program 26 225 1975 National Student Exchange Program 26 226 1976 National Student Exchange Program 26 227 1971-1972 Mar National Student Lobby 26 228 1972 Apr-1974 National Student Lobby 26 229 1982 National Student Political Action Committee 27 230 1978-1981 Newport Bridge 27 231 1965-1968 New Student Week 27 232 1982 New York Times "Selective Guide to Colleges" 27 233 1979 News Releases 27 234 1981-1982 Nuclear Freeze Campaign 27 235 1977 Off-Campus Housing Office 27 236 1974-1981 Ombudsperson 27 237 1982-1985 Ombudsperson 27 238 1980 Open House 27 239 1980 Organizational Fair 27 240 1978 Parent's Day 27 241 1967-1969 Parietals 27 242 n.d. Parliamentary Procedure 27 243 1966-1969 Pass/Fail system 27 244 1964-1965 Peace Corps 27 245 1973-1974 Peace Officers Program 27 246 1966-1967 Perspective 28 247 1967 Nov-Dec Placement Activity 28 247a 1981-1983 Platforms: Student Senate Candidates 28 247b 1984 Platforms: Miscellaneous Senatorial 28 248 1970-1972 Police Data 28 249 1977-1980 Police Data 28 250 1969, 1972-1979 Policies and Procedures Manuals 28 251 1980-1982 Policies and Procedures Manuals 28 252 1984-1985 Policies and Procedures Manuals 28 253 1974 Apr-Oct Presidential Inauguration: Frank Newman 28 254 1974 Nov-Dec Presidential Inauguration: Frank Newman 29 255 1971 President's Correspondence 29 256 1972 Jan-Sep President's Correspondence 29 257 1972 Oct-Dec President's Correspondence 29 258 1973 Jan-Apr President's Correspondence 29 259 1973 May-Dec President's Correspondence 29 260 1974 President's Correspondence 29 261 1980 Prototype Composing 29 262 1980-1983 Providence Journal Articles 29 263 1973-1978 Purchasing Coordinator 29 264 1973-1981 scattered dates Purchasing Policies and Procedures 29 264a 1974-1975 Rainville, A. Robert 30 265 1966-1967, 1984 Rams Den 30 266 1982 Rape: The Problem of Rape on Campus 30 267 1982 Rebalancing for the 1980s: A Report 30 268 1980-1981 Recreational Services 30 269 1973-1982 Sep, scattered dates Referenda 30 270 1982 Oct Referenda 30 271 1982 Nov Referenda 30 272 1982 Dec, n.d. Referenda 30 273 1981, 1985 Registration/Registrar 30 274 1982 Religious Groups: The Way 30 275 1970 Repression and Civil Liberties 30 276 1966-1971 Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) 30 277 1972 Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) 30 278 n.d. Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) 31 279 1972-1973 Residence Hall Advisory Council 31 280 1971 Residency Rules 31 281 1974, 1978 Residential Life: Office of (See also: Housing) 31 282 1973-1974 Rhode Island Council of Student Governments 31 282a 1971-1972 Rhode Island Educational Goals Conference 31 283 1968 Rhode Island Legislature: Educational Bills 31 284 1974-1982 Oct Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group 31 285 1982 Nov-1984 Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group 31 286 1979-1983 Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group: Agreements and Contracts 31 287 1974-1980 Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (R.I.P.T.A.) 31 287a 1979-1981 Rhode Island Student Coalition 31 288 1981-1983 Rules: Election/Workers 31 289 1971, 1976-1977 Sailing Coordinator 31 290 1983 Search Weekend 32 290a 1976, 1982-1985 Secretary of Student Senate 32 X-Ref Selective Service, See Box 14 32 291 1970 Self-Study Committee 32 292 1971 Jan-Mar Self-Study Steering Committee 32 293 1971 Apr Self-Study Steering Committee 32 294 1971 May-Jun Self-Study Steering Committee 32 295 1979-1981 Senate Weekend 32 296 1982-1983 Senate Weekend 32 297 1979-1982 Senior Commencement Speaker 32 298 1971-1979 Senior Week 32 299 1980 Senior Week 33 300 1981 Senior Week 33 301 1982 Jan-Mar Senior Week 33 302 1982 Apr-Oct Senior Week 33 303 1982 Nov-Dec Senior Week 33 304 1983 Senior Week 33 305 1972-1973 Shuttle Bus 33 305a 1977 Shuttle Bus 33 305b 1980 Shuttle Bus 34 306 1974-1978 Space Allocation Committee 34 307 1979 Space Allocation Committee 34 308 1980-1982 Special Olympics 34 309 1977-1979 State Government 34 310 1980 State Government 34 311 1981 State Government 34 312 1973-1974 Stipends for Student Government Officers 34 313 1968-1969 Student Advisory Council 34 314 1971-1978 Student Affairs 34 315 1974-1976 Student Budget Task Force 34 316 1977 Jan-Apr Student Budget Task Force 35 317 1977 May Student Budget Task Force 35 318 1977 Jun-1979 Mar Student Budget Task Force 35 319 1979 Apr-Nov Student Budget Task Force 35 320 1980-1981 Student Budget Task Force 35 321 1968-1977 Student Cooperatives 35 322 1973-1979 Sep Student Employment Policies 35 323 1979 Oct-1982 Student Employment Policies 35 324 1983 Student Employment Committees 36 325 1977-1982 Student Fees 36 326 1978-1980 Student Funds, Investment of 36 327 1965-1972 Student Handbooks 36 328 1978-1981 Student Interest Organization 36 328a 1982-1983 Student Interest Organization 36 328b 1982 Student Interest Organization Coordinator 36 329 1964-1967 Student Lecture Series 36 330 1964-1967 Student Life Committee 36 331 1968 Student Life Committee 36 332 1969-1971 Student Life Committee 36 333 1966-1967 Student Personnel Services Division 36 334 1968-1969 Student Personnel Services Division 36 335 1970-1971 Student Personnel Services Division 36 336 1978 Student Relations and Research 36 337 1979 Student Rights 36 338 1977 May Student Task Force Report 36 339 1966-1970 Students for Democratic Action 36 340 n.d. Supply Requisition Blanks 37 341 1981-1984, 1986 Surveys and Petitions 37 342 1970 Tax Exempt Status of URI 37 343 1974-1976 Teaching Effectiveness Facilities 37 344 1974-1983 Teaching Excellence Award 37 345 1964-1976, scattered dates Telephones in the Dormitories 37 346 1969-1972 Tenure 37 347 1972-1974 Tuition and Fees 37 348 1975-1977 Tuition and Fees 37 349 1978-1979 Tuition and Fees 37 350 1980 Tuition and Fees 37 351 1981-1982 Jun Tuition and Fees 37 352 1982 Jul-1983 Tuition and Fees 38 353 1974-1980 Tuition Policy 38 354 1971 Tutorial Project 38 355 1966 Undergraduate Research Grant Program 38 356 1967-1969 Undergraduate Research Grant Program 38 357 1972-1980 Undergraduate Research Grant Program 38 358 1974 Unification Church 38 359 1975 Unification Church 38 360 1980-1981 Unification Church 38 361 1967-1970 Union Board of Directors 39 362 1971-1980 Union Board of Directors 39 363 1969-1970, 1983 Union Pub 39 364 1973 Unionization of Students 39 365 1970-1971 Unions: Publications 39 366 1974 University College Reports 39 367 1978-1979 University College Reports 39 368 1980 University College: Search Committee for Dean of 39 369 1977-1981, 1984 University College and General Education Committee 39 370 1971, 1979-1981 University Committees: Student Appointees to 39 371 1982-1984 University Committees: Student Appointees to 40 372 1970-1971 University : Community Relations 40 373 1982 Jun University Festival 40 374 1968-1971 Mar University Governance 40 375 1971 Apr-Sep University Governance 40 376 1971 Oct-Dec University Governance 40 377 1972 University Governance 40 378 1969-1971 University Manual 40 379 1981-1983 University Manual 40 380 1974-1979 scattered dates University Opinion Index 40 381 1968-1969 University Research 40 382 1970-1973 University Theatre: Budget Deficit 41 383 1979 University Year for Action 41 384 1969-1970 URI-in-the-News 41 385 1971 URI-in-the-News 41 386 1972 URI-in-the-News 41 387 1973-1975, 1979 URI-in-the-News 41 388 1980 URI- Rhode Island College Overlap Issue 41 389 1981 URI- Rhode Island College Overlap Issue 41 390 1980-1981 USSA (United States Student Association) 41 391 1982 USSA (United States Student Association) 42 392 1967-1969 Vandalism 42 393 1975 Vice President for Business Affairs: Candidates for 42 394 1982 Vice President for Business Affairs: Search Committee 42 395 1972-1974 Video Autonomy ad hoc Committee 42 396 1970 Vietnam Referendum 42 397 1972 Violence on Campus 42 398 1965, 1967-1969 Visiting Scholars 42 399 n.d. Voting Districts (A-C) 42 400 n.d. Voting Districts (E-L) 42 401 n.d. Voting Districts (N-S) 42 402 n.d. Voting Districts (W-Z) 43 403 1970 Welfare Rights 43 404 1970 Who's Who Among Students 43 405 1978 Why URI? Project 43 406 1982 Jul Women's Center 43 407 1967-1972 Work Study Program See also: Student Employment Policies 43 408 1967-1981 scattered dates WRIU Radio 43 409 1971-1973 WRIU Radio Expansion Committee 43 410 1975-1982 WRIU Radio Expansion Committee 43 411 1966-1967 Yankee Conference 43 412 1971 Young Democrats for McGovern 43 413 n.d. Young Republicans 43 414 1969-1971 Youth Advisory Council (to government) 43 415 1989, 1992 By-Laws of the Student Senate (Revised) Series 2 Tax Committee1964-1987

The Tax Committee became part of the Student Senate in 1963 and is the most powerful of the Senate's committees since it controls the purse strings for all recognized student organizations, including the Student Senate itself. The Tax Committee is responsible for allocating the upper six figure student activities tax monies to those student organizations which are officially recognized by the Student Senate as eligible for activities tax monies. Thus, the Tax Committee in a fiscal sense holds life and death power over student organizations. Student organizations are designed to enhance student life academically, athletically, culturally and/or socially. To receive funding from the Student Senate, organizations must be nonrestrictive, dedicated to improving student welfare, and capable of meeting the educational, cultural, and social needs of students. The Tax Committee was renamed the Finance Committee in the fall of 1987.

The files of the Tax Committee consist primarily of budget requests and supporting documentation (e.g. constitutions, by-laws, program proposals, etc.) of those student organizations requesting funds from the Committee and the decisions rendered on their requests. Particularly interesting in this regard are the files of the Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group (R.I.P.I.R.G.). The Student Senate and R.I.P.I.R.G. have been involved in a long running dispute over the method by which R.I.P.I.R.G. is funded and the degree of its accountability to the Senate for the use of those funds. The R.I.P.I.R.G. files reveal the nature of the controversy over funding and indicate that Tax Committee decisions on dispersals of activities tax funds can be as much based on political as fiscal concerns.

Also of interest in this series are the minutes of the Tax Committee meetings which reveal the seriousness of purpose with which committee members approached their task. A reading of the minutes and of the files of the organizations requesting funds gives one a clear picture of both the way in which the Tax Committee discharges its responsibilities and the changing focus of student organizations over a twenty year span.

The organizational files in this series provide a more thorough history of any student organization than is available from any other single source and give researchers a glimpse into student life beyond academics.

The series is arranged alphabetically by subject or name of student organization and chronologically within folders.

44 Afro-American Society: Name Change: See UhUru Sa Sa 44 All Nations' Club: Name Change: See International Students Association 44 1 1965-1972 Alpha Phi Omega 44 2 1973, 1975, 1979, 1982 Alternative Food Co-op 44 3 1981-1983 Amateur Radio Club 44 4 1973-1975 American Marketing Association 44 5 1980-1984 Approved Financial Transactions 44 6 1964-1970 Arts Council 44 7 1971-1972 Asian American Association 44 8 1969-1972 Ballet Club 44 Big Brother/Big Sister: Name Change: See Little Brother/Little Sister 44 9 1969 Blue Key Society 44 10 1971 Bowling Club 44 11 1968-1972 Budget 44 12 1973-1974 Budget 44 13 1975-1977 Budget 45 14 1978-1979 Budget 45 15 1980-1981 Budget 45 16 1982-1984 Budget 45 17 1977-1981 Budget Hearings 45 18 1982-1985 Budget Hearings 45 19 1981-1984 Budget Policies and Procedures 45 20 1967-1970, 1980 Budget: Student Organizations 46 21 1980-1981 Budget: Student Organizations (F-Z) 46 22 1981-1983 Budget: Student Organizations 46 23 1983-1984 Budget: Student Organizations (A-S) 46 24 1983-1984 Budget: Student Organizations (T-Z) 46 25 1984-1985 Budget: Student Organizations (A-R) 46 26 1984-1985 Budget: Student Organizations (S-Z) 47 27 1982 Campus Crusade for Christ 47 28 1983 Catholic Students Association 47 29 1967-1973 Chess Club 47 30 1964-1971 Chorus 47 31 1970, 1973-1975 Club Sports 47 32 1967-1974 Community Action Project 47 33 1981-1983 Commuters' Association 47 34 1971 Concert Band 47 35 1970-1971 Conferences 47 Co-op Community Center: Name Change: See Alternative Food Co-op 47 36 1968-1970 Course Evaluation Committee 47 Crew Club: Name Change: See Rowing Association 47 37 1964-1968 Apr Debate Council/Union 47 38 1968 May-1972 Debate Council/Union 47 39 1982-1985 Deposits 47 39a 1985-1986 Deposits and Payment Orders 47 39b 1987 Deposits and Payment Orders 48 40 1970-1972 Draft Counseling Project 48 41 1971-1973 Drop-In-Center 48 42 1969-1980 scattered dates Fee Allocations: Other Universities 48 43 1980, n.d. Fee Allocations: Other Universities 48 44 1982-1983 Finance and Investment Club 48 45 1970-1976 Financial Transactions 48 46 1977-1980, 1984-1985 Financial Transactions 48 47 1981-1983 Follies Bazaar 48 48 1969-1977 Free University 48 49 1972-1974 French Club 48 Friends of Challenge: Name Change: See Jericho Society 48 50 1976-1980 Fundraising Campaigns 48 Gay Students Coalition: Name Change: See Kingston Gay Liberation 48 51 1971-1972, 1978 Geology Club 48 52 1969-1974 German Club 49 53 1971-1976 Good 5-cent Cigar 49 54 1977, 1980-1983 Good 5-Cent Cigar 49 55 1978-1983 n.d. Great Swamp Gazette 49 Grist (Yearbook): Name Change: See Renaissance 49 56 1981 Handicrafters' Club 49 57 1965-1981 Horsemen's Club 49 58 1971-1974 Humans to End Environmental Destruction 49 59 n.d. Hypertension Education and Screening Program 49 60 1965-1971 International Students Association 49 61 1972-1983 International Students Association 49 62 1970-1972 Inventories: Property of Student Organizations 49 63 1972, 1974 Italian Club 50 64 1970-1974 Jericho Society 50 65 1973-1974, 1978 Kingston Gay Liberation 50 66 1964-1970 Kingston Guard Drill Team 50 67 1974 Kingston Little Theatre 50 68 1971, 1973, 1979 Kingston Women's Liberation 50 69 1965-1972 LaCrosse Club 50 70 1983 Latin American Students Association 50 71 1964-1974 Ledgers and Accounts 50 72 1980-1981, n.d. Liability Disclaimer: Student Organizations 50 73 1968-1982 scattered dates Little Brother/Little Sister 50 74 1970-1972 Math Club 50 75 1961-1984 Memos from the Tax Committee Chair 51 76 1967-1973 Minutes of Meetings 51 77 1974-1975, 1978-1979 Minutes of Meetings 51 78 1980-1982 Minutes of Meetings 51 79 1983-1987 Minutes of Meetings 51 80 1981-1983 Model United Nations 51 81 1969-1971 Moustache 51 82 1976-1977 Mushroom Coffee House 51 83 1981-1983 Older Students Association 51 84 n.d. Outing Club 51 Paradigm Literary Society: Name Change: See Perspective 51 85 1964-1969 Perspective 51 86 1970-1982 Perspective 51 87 1972-1976, 1981 Photo Cooperative 51 88 1974 Plant and Soil Science 51 89 1971-1973 Portuguese Club 52 90 1978-1979, n.d. Program Grants 52 91 1970 Project '70 Subsidy 52 92 1982-1983 Purchasing Summary 52 93 1966-1967 Rebirth 52 94 1982-1983 Recognized Student Organizations 52 95 1981-1983, n.d. Recreational Services 52 96 1964-1973 Renaissance 52 97 1974-1982 Renaissance 52 98 Requests for Funds: Non-Student Organizations 52 99 1977-1981 Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group (RIPIRG) 53 100 1982 Jan-Sep Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group (RIPIRG) 53 101 1982 Oct-Dec Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group (RIPIRG) 53 102 1983 Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group (RIPIRG) 53 103 1965-1970 Rowing Association 53 104 1971-1974, 1981 Rowing Association 53 105 1967, 1971-1972 Rugby Club 53 106 1964-1967 Sachems 53 107 1963-1969 Sailing Club 53 108 1970-1971 Sailing Club 53 109 1972-1983 Sailing Club 54 110 1972 Sandturn Road Project 54 111 Secretary of the Student Senate, Salary of 54 112 1982-1983 Senior Week 54 113 1978-1980 Ski Club 54 114 1967-1972 Ski Team 54 115 1965-1981 Skin Divers' Club 54 116 1971-1978 Sky Divers' Club 54 117 1973-1983 scattered dates Speakeasy 54 118 1971 Student Affairs Committee 54 119 1968-1972 Student Coalition Against Racism 54 120 1969-1973 Student Home Economics Club 55 121 1974, 1978 Student International Meditation Society 55 122 1967-1971 Student Lecture Series 55 123 1972-1983 Student Lecture Series 55 124 1969-1971 Student Marine Fisheries Association 55 125 1970-1972 Student Mobilization Committee 55 126 1968-1984 Student Senate Operations 55 127 Student Veterans' Association 55 128 1974-1983 Student Video Center 55 129 1963, 1967-1969 Students for Democratic Action 55 130 1969-1975 Surf Club 55 131 1964-1971 Symphony Orchestra 55 132 1970-1971, 1974 Travel Fund 55 133 1969-1983 Uhuru Sa Sa 56 134 1982-1983 University of Rhode Island Students for Social Change (URISSC) 56 135 1964-1970 University Theatre 56 136 1971-1973 University Theatre 56 137 1972-1973 Veterans Against the War 56 138 n.d. Watson House Guild 56 139 1978, 1981-1983, n.d. Weekenders 56 140 1974-1975 Why Don't You Free University 56 141 1972-1975, 1981-1982 Wildlife Society 56 142 1974-1977 Women's Caucus 56 143 1981-1982 Women's Collective See also: Kingston Women's Liberation 56 144 1979, 1981-1983 Women's Crisis Center 56 145 1981-1982 World Hunger Committee 56 146 1973-1982 Jan WRIU Radio 56 147 1982 Feb-1983 WRIU Radio 56 Yacht Club: Name Change: See Sailing Club 56 148 1972-1974, 1977 Young Democrats 56 149 1973-1975, 1977 Young Socialists Alliance 56 150 1969-1978 Miscellaneous Series 3 Committees1965-1987

The Committees Series consists of material relating to Student Senate committees other than the Tax Committee. Examples include the External Affairs Committee, the Student Entertainment Committee, the Executive Committee, and the Student Affairs Committee. Committees which have student representation but which were not created by Student Senate legislation are not included in this series. These records are in the Subject Series. Some of the materials in this series are duplicated in the Finance Committee Series since the Finance Committee is responsible for allocating funds to those Student Senate committees which require them.

The records in this series are non-fiscal and consist principally of correspondence, memos, minutes of meetings, committee reports, constitutions and by-laws, and the charge given to the particular committee upon its creation. Particularly interesting are the files of the Bookstore Committee, the Affirmative Action Committee, and the Student Affairs Committee. Each concerns itself with an issue of interest to students, be it the protection of minority student rights/promotion of minority student interests, ample parking and lighting on campus, or the length of lines and cost of a textbook at the bookstore.

This series is arranged alphabetically by the name of the committee and chronologically by date within folders.

57 1 1967-1982, scattered dates Academic Affairs Committee 57 1a 1983-1987, scattered dates Academic Affairs Committee 57 2 1974-1977 Affirmative Action Committee 57 2a 1978 Affirmative Action Committee 57 3 1979-1981 Affirmative Action Committee 57 4 1983-1985 Affirmative Action Committee 57 5 1967-1978 Mar Affirmative Action Committee: Title IX 57 6 1978 Aug-1979, n.d. Affirmative Action Committee: Title IX 57 7 1965-1976 Bookstore Committee 57 8 1977-1978 Bookstore Committee 58 9 1979-1980, n.d. Bookstore Committee 58 10 1974, 1981 Campus Media Committee 58 11 1973 Constitutions Committee 58 12 1974 Constitutions Committee 58 13 1980-1982 Jun Executive Committee 58 14 1982 Aug-1983 Executive Committee 58 15 1966-1981 Oct, scattered Executive Committee: Agenda and Minutes 58 16 1981 Nov-1985 Executive Committee: Agenda and Minutes 59 17 1980-1983 External Affairs Committee 59 18 1978-1980 Food Fight Committee 59 19 1979 Mealbook Committee 59 20 1966-1967, 1981 Research Committee 59 21 1972-1977 Resident Hall Council 59 22 1983 Senate Scope Committee 59 23 1971-1979 Student Affairs Committee 59 24 1980-1983 Student Affairs Committee 59 25 1969-1970 Student Entertainment Committee 59 26 1971-1976 Student Entertainment Committee 60 27 1977-1983 Student Entertainment Committee 60 28 1974, 1980-1981 Student Evaluation Test Committee 60 29 1982-1983 Student Evaluation Test Committee 60 30 1984-1985 Student Organization Advisory and Review Committee (SOARC) 60 31 1984, n.d. Student Senate Committee Appointments 60 32 1973-1974, 1980-1981, 1983 Student Senate Miscellaneous Documents 60 33 1967-1968 Teaching Aid Program Series 4 Agenda and Minutes1967-1986

The Agenda and Minutes Series consists of the agenda and minutes of the weekly meetings of the Student Senate. There are some gaps in the period represented. The minutes for the first twenty-five years of meetings are missing or were never taken. The minutes represent a summary of what occurred at each meeting rather than a verbatim transcript.

Despite the gaps and the summary version of the minutes, however, this series is a valuable resource in that it reveals the types of issues which the Senate considered and the changing perceptions of those issues by succeeding Senates over an eighteen year period. Here can be found discussion on issues as serious as the Vietnam War and civil rights and as mundane as unplowed parking lots and the quality of Memorial Union coffee.

The series is arranged chronologically by the date of the meeting.

61 1 1967 Sep-Dec Agenda/Minutes 61 2 1968 Jan-May Agenda/Minutes 61 3 1968 Sep-1969 May Agenda/Minutes 61 4 1969 Sep-1970 May Agenda/Minutes 61 5 1970 Sep-1971 May Agenda/Minutes 61 6 1971 Sep-Dec Agenda/Minutes 61 7 1972 Agenda/Minutes 62 8 1973 Feb-1975 May, scattered Agenda/Minutes 62 9 1975 Sep-1976 May Agenda/Minutes 62 10 1976 Sep-1977, scattered Agenda/Minutes 62 11 1978 Agenda/Minutes 62 12 1979 Agenda/Minutes 62 13 1980 Agenda/Minutes 62 14 1981 Agenda/Minutes 63 15 1982 Jan-May Agenda/Minutes 63 16 1982 Sep-Dec Agenda/Minutes 63 17 1983 Jan-May Agenda/Minutes 63 18 1984 Sep-May Agenda/Minutes 63 19 1984 Sep-1985 May Agenda/Minutes 63 20 1985 Sep-1986 Feb Agenda/Minutes 63 21 1986 Feb 19-Apr 30 Agenda/Minutes 63 22 1986 Sep-Dec Agenda/Minutes Series 5 Legislation1965-1988

The Legislation Series consists of formal bills and resolutions introduced into the Student Senate between 1965 and 1983. As in the other series there are no records for the early years of the Senate. At the beginning of each academic year or term of the Senate is a "bill log" which records the number, title, and disposition of each bill considered by the Student Senate in a given academic year. The log is followed by the text of each bill or resolution. This series contains the tangible result of the Senate deliberations recorded in the Agenda and Minutes Series.

The bills in this series run the gamut from the significant to the mundane to the absurd, as when a resolution was introduced urging the President of the United States to declare the Memorial Union Rams Den a toxic waste site because of the poor quality of the coffee it served. In this series can also be found bills and resolutions concerning serious issues confronting students both on campus and in the larger community. These bills and resolutions constitute a valuable resource for anyone contemplating a history of the URI Student Senate.

The series is arranged chronologically by year and numerically by bill number within folders.

64 1 1965/66-1967/68 Student Senate Legislation 64 2 1968/69-1969/70 Student Senate Legislation 64 3 1970-1971 Student Senate Legislation 64 4 1970-1971 Student Senate Legislation 64 5 1971-1972 Student Senate Legislation 64 6 1972-1973 Student Senate Legislation 64 7 1973-1974 Student Senate Legislation 64 8 1974-1975 Student Senate Legislation 64 9 1975-1976 Student Senate Legislation 65 10 1976-1977 Student Senate Legislation 65 11 1977-1978 Student Senate Legislation 65 12 1978-1979 Student Senate Legislation 65 13 1979-1980 Student Senate Legislation 65 14 1980-1981 Student Senate Legislation 65 15 1981-1982 Student Senate Legislation 65 16 1981-1982 Student Senate Legislation 65 17 1982-1983 Student Senate Legislation 65 18 1987-1988 Bill Log 65 19 1987-1988 Student Senate Legislation 65 20 1987-1988 Student Senate Legislation Series 6 Chronological File1957-1983

The Chronological File contains incoming and copies of outgoing correspondence of the Student Senate. Most of the letters contained in this series are duplicated in the Subject Series.

Arranged by the date of the correspondence.

66 1 1957, 1964-1966 Chronological File 66 2 1967-1968 Mar Chronological File 66 3 1968 Apr-Sep Chronological File 66 4 1968 Oct-Dec Chronological File 66 5 1969 Jan-Apr Chronological File 66 6 1969 May-Sep Chronological File 66 7 1969 Oct Chronological File 66 8 1969 Nov-Dec Chronological File 67 9 1970 Jan-Feb Chronological File 67 10 1970 Mar-Apr Chronological File 67 11 1970 May-Sep Chronological File 67 12 1970 Oct-Dec Chronological File 67 13 1971 Jan-Mar Chronological File 67 14 1971 Apr-Mar Chronological File 67 15 1972 Oct-1973 Sep Chronological File 67 16 1973 Oct-Dec Chronological File 67 17 1974 Jan-Apr Chronological File 67 18 1974 Aug-1983 Chronological File 67 19 1984-1987 Chronological File