Student Senate 'passes gavel' to begin next term

03/26/09 - At last night's University of Rhode Island Student Senate meeting former senate president Tom Ahrens left with a tearful standing ovation, and the new presidential term of David Bedard began. The tradition of the "passing of the gavel" gives senators who will not return for another term a chance to say their final words to senate. Many senators brought back old memories each had with their fellow senators.

Ahrens' departure comes after a highly debated and controversial election last year that left him feeling a little uneasy coming in.

"The year started off kind of difficult for me," Ahrens said during his goodbye speech.

In last year's election, his opponent, Josh Feinberg, was disqualified from the race because of a technicality.

Ahrens said he didn't know if he rightfully won the election, or if he was going to be up to the task of becoming student senate president.

But his fellow senators described him as one of the best presidents the senate has seen in years.

Bedard said he was appreciative of Ahrens for mentoring him and making his transition into leadership easier. He said that when he was first elected, Ahrens was one of the first people he called. "You should have no problem coming in because you trained for a year under one of the best," Bedard recalled Ahrens saying that night.

Bedard presented Ahrens with an engraved gavel before he was sworn in as the new Student Senate president.

Senators dispensed words of wisdom to the newly-elected senators last night as well. Former Cultural Affairs Chairman Maxwell Adepoju told the senate, "Keep smiling, stay beautiful and love life."

Adepoju also formally congratulated Bedard on his victory after losing to him in this year's Student Senate presidential election.

"You were meant for the seat, everything happens for a reason," Adepoju said to Bedard.

Senator Jorge Rodrigues got a rise from the crowd when he told senator Jennifer Allison, "the future is so bright, you need to put shades on."

In other news:

Chairman Allen Petit was re-elected to chairman of the senate Finance Committee after beating out senator Jacob Holzman. The debate went back and forth with each candidate, answering every question thrown at his direction.

Senator Katherine Holland was elected chairwoman of the Student Organization Advisory and Review Committee, beating out senator Anthony Sinapi for the spot. She follows junior Amanda Clarke who respectfully declined her re-nomination.

The senate also voted in support of the adjunct faculty's demands for better compensation for the amount of credits they teach. Chairman Zach Stolow commented it would be good to see the student body is behind the adjunct faculty and its cause.

First Book URI club was recognized at Level IV. It is a nationwide organization that helps children of poor families receive their first books.

URI Seekers Meditation Group was recognized at Level III. It is a non-denominational group that hopes to promote a stress release stress management format.