US-RUn-rcg124.2 Guide to the Records of the University of Rhode Island Student Senate 1964-2008 Finding aid prepared by Dr. Kevin J. Logan. University of Rhode Island Library, Special Collections and Archives 2004
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 05, updated by Erin C. Mullen on 2012 March 16 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 1964-2008 24 box(es)(11.75 linear feet) Contains the records of the University of Rhode Island Student Senate from 1964 to 2008. Rec. Gr. 124.2 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.

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. 124.2, University of Rhode Island.

 Scope and Content Note

The Student Senate records in this accession span the time period from 1964-2003. The documentation from the formative years of the Senate are not available to researchers and must be presumed lost. The materials are in good to excellent condition. They 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 is arranged into four series as follows: 1. Subject File 2. Finance Committee 3. Agenda and Minutes 4. Legislation

Acquisitions Information

This accession was transferred to Special Collections during the summer of 2003 from the Senate office in the Memorial Union. Bill log indexes and bills from 2006-2008 (RAcc. 2008.14) were received from Kim Bolton in the Student Senate Office on April 19, 2007 (2006/07 bills) and May 5, 2008 (2007/08 bills).

 Custodial History

Before the records were transferred to Special Collections, they were held at the Senate office in the Memorial Union.

 Names University of Rhode Island. Student Senate Subjects

RIAMCO Browsing Terms Education Rhode Island/Local Interest Inventory Series 1 Subject File1975-1997

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. Issues of perennial concern to students include the poor quality food offered in the dining hall and the lack of adequate parking.

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

1 1 1984-1985 Absences and Resignations 1 2 1984-1985 Gorman, Raymond 1 3 1975, 1979-1982 Insurance 1 4 1986 Jewish Arts Festival 1 5 1987 Language Requirement: Opinion Poll 1 6 1985 Language Requirement: Petition to Revise 1 7 1985 Language Requirement: Petition to Revise 1 8 1982 Press: Lists of Media Outlets in R.I. 1 9 n.d. Rampages 1 10 1984-1985 Resolutions, Drafts of 1 11 1984 Roster of Student Senators 1 12 1997 Sealed Meeting Minutes 1 13 1983 Telephones Series 2 Finance Committee1964-2003

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 Finance 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 Finance Committee decisions on dispersals of activities tax funds can be as much based on political as fiscal concerns. In the 1970s, across the nation, students protested their colleges and universities refusal to collect the mandatory (and refundable) fees to support Public Service Research Groups (P.I.R.G.). The outcry caused Ralph Nader, a long-time proponent of PIRG, to step forward into the controversy. Claiming that colleges were supporting their own agenda at the expense of student involvement and citizenship, Nader called for all fees to be reinstated. (See Box # 12).

These records identify student organizations from the late 1960s to 2003. 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. Organizations such as the Ski Team and Cycling Clubs focus on athletic development while others like the Math and Debate Clubs possess a more academic viewpoint. Student ingenuity can be seen by studying the records of Kingston Student Services. This student Corporation was chartered by the State of Rhode Island in 1973, and, within five years, encompassed a used book co-op, an audio/visual store (Cellar Sights and Sounds), a youth hostel, a concession stand and a student-owned station wagon.

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

2 1 1982-1991 A-Organization Recognition Request 2 2 2002 Academy of Kuntao Jiu Jitsu Club 2 3 2000, 2002 A Capella 2 4 2002 African Awareness Association 2 5 1974-1986 scattered dates Alternative Food Coop 2 6 2000-2001 Amateur Comedy Association 2 7 1974-2002 scattered dates Amateur Radio Club 2 8 2002 American Marketing Association 2 9 2002 American Society of Landscape Architects 2 10 1981-1991 Amnesty International 2 11 1985-2002 Animal Rights 2 12 1991-2001 Anthropological Society 2 13 2002 Arts and Literature Review 2 14 2002 Asian Students Association 2 15 2002 Association of Computing Machinery 2 16 1978-1998 scattered dates B-Organization Recognition Request 2 17 2002 Ballroom Dancing Club 2 18 2002 Brazilian Cape Verdean Capoeira 2 19 2002 Breakdance Crew 2 20 2002 Bridges 2 21 1966-1977 scattered dates C-Organization Recognition Request 3 22 1980-1988 scattered dates C-Organization Recognition Request 3 23 1990-1999 scattered dates C-Organization Recognition Request 3 24 1991-1999 scattered dates Campus Advance for Christ 3 25 1974-2002 scattered dates Campus Crusade for Christ 3 26 1989-2000 scattered dates Cape Verdean Student's Association 3 27 2002 Car Club 3 28 2002 Chapter Summary Bible Study Club 3 29 1967-1985 Chess Club 3 30 2002 Clean Water Action 3 31 2002 Club Sports and Intramural Council 3 32 1968-2002 scattered dates Commuter Student Association 3 33 1969-2002 scattered dates Crew Club 3 34 2002 Cultural Italian American Organization 3 35 1987-1990 scattered dates Cycling Club 4 36 1973-1987 scattered dates D-Organization Recognition Request 4 37 2002 Dance Company 4 38 1985-1989 scattered dates Debate Club 4 39 1968-1992 scattered dates E-Organization Recognition Request 4 40 2002 Electronic Music Association 4 41 1986-2002 scattered dates Equestrian Club 4 42 1969-1985 scattered dates F-Organization Recognition Request 4 43 1978-1998 scattered dates F-Organization Recognition Request 4 44 1982-2002 Fashion Merchandizing Society 4 45 1992-2002 scattered dates Financial Management Association 4 46 2002 Firearm Safety Association 4 47 2002 Flavor Unit 4 48 2002 Free Software Society 4 49 1981-2002 scattered dates Frisbee Club 4 50 1965-1994 G-Organization Recognition Request 5 51 1989-2002 scattered dates Gaming Club 5 52 1976-2002 scattered dates Geology Club 5 53 2002 Good 5ยข Cigar 5 54 2002 Good Life 5 55 1985-1994 scattered dates Gay and Lesbian Association 5 56 1982-1991 Great Swamp Gazette 5 57 1970-1999 H-Organization Recognition Request 5 58 2002 Habitat for Humanity 5 59 2002 Hillel 5 60 1969-1977 scattered dates Horsemen's Club 5 61 1982-2000 scattered dates I-Organization Recognition Request 6 62 1982-2002 scattered dates Ice Hockey 6 63 1987-1992 scattered dates India Club 6 64 1969-2002 scattered dates Interfraternity Council 6 65 1976-1996 scattered dates International Student's Association 6 66 1969-2002 scattered dates Intervarsity Christian Fellowship 6 67 1973, 1995 J-Organization Recognition Request 6 68 2002 Japanimation 6 69 2001-2002 Jeet Kune Do 6 70 1974 Kappa Delta Pi 6 71 1978-1979 Kingston Student Services Applications 6 72 1980-1981 Kingston Student Services Applications 6 73 1978-1984, scattered dates Kingston Student Services: Board of Directors Minutes 7 74 1974-1983 scattered dates Kingston Student Services Book Exchange 7 75 1972-1980 scattered dates Kingston Student Services Cellar Sights and Sounds 7 76 1973-1980 scattered dates Kingston Student Services Charter 7 77 1973-1980 scattered dates Kingston Student Services General 7 78 1971-1974 Kingston Student Services Recycling 7 79 1973-1981 scattered dates Kingston Student Services Sound and Light 7 80 1980-1983 Kingston Student Services Station Wagon 7 81 1976-1981 scattered dates Kingston Student Services Hostel 8 82 1973-1994 scattered dates L-Organization Recognition Request 8 83 1971-2002 scattered dates LaCrosse Clubs 8 84 1977-2002 scattered dates Latin American Student Association 8 85 2002 Les Bronze (URI French Club) 8 86 1970-1994 scattered dates Little Brother/Little Sister, Big Brother/Big Sister 8 87 1972-2000 scattered dates M-Organization Recognition Request 8 88 2002 Marine Science Society 8 89 2002 Marine Technical Society 8 90 1994, 2002 Memorial Union Board 8 91 1978-2003 scattered dates Model United Nations 8 92 2002 Musicians Guild 8 93 2002 Muslim Student's Association 8 94 1970-1988 scattered dates N-Organization Request 9 95 2002 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) 9 96 1992, 2002 National Society of Black Engineers 9 97 1981-1995 Native American Student's Association 9 98 1971-1985 scattered dates The Navigators 9 99 1992, 2002 Newman Club 9 100 2002 Nutrition Club 9 101 1976-1997 scattered dates O-Organization Recognition Request 9 102 1976-1995 scattered dates Older Student Association 9 103 1979-2002 scattered dates Outing Club 9 104 1968-1990 scattered dates P-Organization Recognition Request 10 105 1988-1996 scattered dates P-Organization Recognition Request 10 106 1982-2000 scattered dates P-Organization Recognition Request 10 107 1976-2002 scattered dates Panhellenic Association 10 108 1990, 2002 People Organized for Women's Equality and Resilience (POWER) 10 109 1991, 1992, 2002 Phi Eta Sigma 10 110 2002 Philosophical Society 10 111 1974-1986 scattered dates Phoenix Production and Broadcasting 10 112 1987-1988 Phoenix Production and Broadcasting 10 113 2003 Physical Education Club 10 114 2003 Pre-Physical Therapy Club 10 115 1982, 2002 Psychology Club 10 116 1975-1998 scattered dates R-Organization Recognition Request 10 117 2002 Resident Advisors Board of Advisors 10 118 2002 Responsible Alcohol Management - RAM Choices 10 119 2003 Responsible Alcohol Management Goals 10 120 1981-1990 scattered dates Recreation Council 11 121 1969-2002 scattered dates Renaissance Yearbook 11 122 1972-1975 Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group (For URI Chapter, See Folders 173-174) 11 123 1976-1978 Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group (For URI Chapter, See Folders 173-174) 11 124 1970s Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group (For URI Chapter, See Folders 173-174) 11 125 1980s Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group (For URI Chapter, See Folders 173-174) 11 126 1980s Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group (For URI Chapter, See Folders 173-174) 127 127 1980s Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group (For URI Chapter, See Folders 173-174) 128 128 1980s Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group (For URI Chapter, See Folders 173-174) 129 129 1980s Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group (For URI Chapter, See Folders 173-174) 130 130 1990s Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group (For URI Chapter, See Folders 173-174) 131 131 1994-2002 scattered dates Roller Hockey 132 132 1981-2002 Rugby 133 133 1960s S-Organization Recognition Request 134 134 1970s S-Organization Recognition Request 13 135 1970s S-Organization Recognition Request 13 136 1980s S-Organization Recognition Request 13 137 1990s S-Organization Recognition Request 13 138 2000s S-Organization Recognition Request 13 139 n.d. S-Organization Recognition Request 13 140 1976-2000 scattered dates Sailing Club 13 141 1981-1990 scattered dates Sailing Team 13 142 1975-2000 scattered dates Scuba/Skin Diving 13 143 1979-2002 scattered dates Ski Club 14 144 2002 Snowboard Club 14 145 1981-1982 Soccer 14 146 2001 Society for Creative Anachronism 14 147 2002 Society of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering 14 148 1976-2002 scattered dates Society of Women Engineers 14 149 2001-2002 Speakeasy 14 150 2002 Student Admissions Representation 14 151 2002 Student Athletic Advisory Commission 14 152 2002 Student Entertainment Committee 14 153 2002 Student Film Association 14 154 1969-1983 scattered dates Student Lecture Series 14 155 1985-1991 scattered dates Student Nurses Association 14 156 1990. 1993-1994, 2001, 2002 Sep-2003 May Student Organization List 14 157 2002 Student Speech Language and Hearing 14 158 2002 Student Technological Association 14 159 1987-1994 scattered dates Students for Access 14 160 1989-1991 Students for Ethical Treatment of Animals 14 161 1981-1985 Students for Israel 14 162 1991-1996 scattered dates Students for Life 14 163 2002 Students for Sensible Drug Policy (HOPE) 14 164 2002 Students for Social Change 14 165 2003 Students for Sustainable Peace 14 166 1990, 2002 scattered dates Students Organized Against Racism (SOAR) 14 167 1969-2002 Surf Club 15 168 1971-2000 scattered dates T-Organization Recognition Request 15 169 2002 Turf Club 15 170 1960s-1980s U-Organization Recognition Request 15 171 1990s-2000s U-Organization Recognition Request 15 172 2000 Uhuru Sa Sa 15 173 1970s-1975 Apr University of Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group (For National and Regional Information and Regulations, See Folders 122-130) 15 174 1975 May-Oct University of Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group (For National and Regional Information and Regulations, See Folders 122-130) 15 175 2002 University of Rhode Island - TV 15 176 1971-2002 scattered dates V-Organization Recognition Request 16 177 1969-2000 scattered dates W-Organization Recognition Request 16 178 1991, 1992, 2002 Water Polo 16 179 1977-1995 scattered dates Wildlife Society 16 180 2002 WinterGuard (University of Rhode Island) 16 181 1979-1983 scattered dates Women's Crisis Center 16 182 1976-1990 World Hunger Committee 16 183 1989, 1990, 2002 Wrestling Clubs 16 184 2002 WRIU 16 185 1964-1977 scattered dates Y-Organization Recognition Request 16 186 1982-1997 scattered dates Y-Organization Recognition Request 16 187 1987-1994 scattered dates Z-Organization Recognition Request Series 3 Agenda and Minutes1987-1995

The Agenda and Minutes Series consists of the agenda and minutes of the weekly meetings of the Student Senate. The minutes represent a summary of what occurred at each meeting rather than a verbatim transcript.

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 eight year period. Here can be found additional examples of the never ending University of Rhode Island parking debate.

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

17 1 1987 Jan-Feb Agenda/Minutes 17 2 1987 Mar Agenda/Minutes 17 3 1987 Apr Agenda/Minutes 17 4 1987 Sep-Dec Agenda/Minutes 17 5 1988 Jan-Mar Agenda/Minutes 17 6 1988 Apr-May Agenda/Minutes 17 7 1988 Sep-Dec Agenda/Minutes 17 8 1989 Jan-May Agenda/Minutes 18 9 1990 May-1991 Agenda/Minutes 18 10 1992 Apr-Dec Agenda/Minutes 18 11 1993 Jan-Mar Agenda/Minutes 18 12 1993 Mar-Apr Agenda/Minutes 18 13 1993 Sep-1994 Mar Agenda/Minutes 18 14 1994 Sep-1995 May Agenda/Minutes Series 4 Legislation1985-2008

The Legislation Series consists of formal bills and resolutions introduced into the Student Senate between 1985 and 2003, and 2006 to 2008. 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 concern 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.

 19 1 1985-1986 Bill Log Index 85/85:01 - 85/86:156 19 2 1985-1986 Student Senate Legislation 85/85:01 - 85/86:156 19 3 1986-1987 Bill Log Index 86/87:01 - 86/87:157 19 4 1986-1987 Student Senate Legislation 86/87:01 - 86/87:157 19 5 1987-1988 Bill Log Index 87/88:01 - 87/88:207 19 6 1987-1988 Student Senate Legislation 87/88:01 - 87/88:207 19 7 1988-1989 Student Senate Legislation 88/89:01 - 88/89:94 19 8 1989 Bill Log Index 89:01 - 89:230 19 9 1989 Student Senate Legislation 89:01 - 89:115 20 10 1989 Student Senate Legislation 89:91 - 89:230 copy 1 20 11 1989 Student Senate Legislation 89:116 - 89:230 copy 2 20 12 1990-1991 Bill Log Index 90:01 - 91:61 20 13 1990-1991 Student Senate Legislation 90:01 - 91:127 copy 1 20 14 1990-1991 Student Senate Legislation 90:01 - 91:127 copy 2 20 15 1991-1992 Bill Log Index 91:01 - 92:60 20 16 1991-1992 Student Senate Legislation 91:01 - 91:155 copy 1 21 17 1991-1992 Student Senate Legislation 91:01 - 91:155 copy 2 21 18 1992 Student Senate Legislation 92:01 - 92:163 copy 1 21 19 1992 Student Senate Legislation 92:01 - 92:163 copy 2 21 20 1992-1993 Bill Log Index 92:01 - 93:74 21 21 1992-1993 Student Senate Legislation 92/93:78 - 92/93:150 copy 1 21 22 1992-1993 Student Senate Legislation 92/93:78 - 92/93:150 copy 1 22 23 1993 Bill Log Index 93:01 - 93:84 22 24 1993 Student Senate Legislation 93:01 - 93:67 22 25 1993 Student Senate Legislation 93:01 - 93:78 22 26 1993-1994 Student Senate Legislation 93/94:01 - 93/94:167 copy 1 22 27 1993-1994 Student Senate Legislation 93/94:01 - 93/94:167 copy 2 22 28 1993-1995 Bill Log Index 93/94:01 - 94/95:26 22 29 1993-1994 Student Senate Legislation 93/94:01 - 19/94:26 22 30 1994-1995 Student Senate Legislation 94/95:01 - 94/95:26 23 31 1998-1999 Bill Log Index 98/99:01 - 98/99:171 23 32 1998-1999 Student Senate Legislation 98/99:01 - 98/99:171 23 33 1999-2000 Bill Log Index 99/00:01 - 99/00:175 23 34 1999-2001 Student Senate Legislation 99/01:01 - 99/01:175 23 35 2000-2001 Bill Log Index 00/01:01 - 00/01:201 23 36 2000-2001 Student Senate Legislation 00/01:01 - 00/01:201 23 37 2001-2002 Bill Log Index 01/02:01 - 01/02:201 23 38 2001-2002 Student Senate Legislation 01/01:01 - 01/02:201 23 39 2002-2003 Bill Log Index 02/03:01 - 02/03:226 23 40 2002-2003 Student Senate Legislation 02/03:01 - 02/03:226 24 41 2006-2007 Bill log index 06/07:94 - 06/07:228 24 42 2006-2007 Student Senate legislation 06/07:94 - 06/07:228 24 43 2007-2008 Bill log index 07/08:1 - 07/08:62 24 44 2007-2008 Student Senate legislation 07/08:1 - 07/08:62