Student Organizations And Publications. General Student Senate (University Of Maine) Records

The General Student Senate (GSS) is the fiduciary body of Student Government. It consists of no more than 35 Student Senators who serve as direct representatives of students in their respective colleges. The Vice President of Student Government is the President of the GSS. The GSS has final authority on all Student Government monetary issues, student organization matters and student administrative committee appointments. It also takes official stances on student concerns. Weekly meetings are open to the public and broadcast on the campus channel. Any member of the campus community may address the GSS during the General Good and Welfare section of the meeting. Elections occur every September.

The Senate is composed of undergraduates who meet to debate and vote on student club recognition and funding as well as resolutions that effect the entire student body. Senators and Executives gather to hear reports from Senate Committee Chairs, Representative Boards, Community Associations, clubs, faculty members, and presentations from University of Maine constituents. Senators debate and vote on club recognition and funding as well as resolutions that effect the entire student body. The Senate has a president and vice presidents with responsibilities for areas such as financial affairs, student organizations, and student entertainment. The Senate also has various standing and ad-hoc committees.

The UMSG Senators operate to ensure University of Maine students and their interested are well represented by their Student Government and their University as a whole. A Senator has a strong voice in decisions on important UMaine legislation, as well as the power to contribute to other internal functions, including but not limited to: funds allocation to student organizations, as well as support and promotion of campus events. The Senate is under University of Maine’s Student Government, where many other organizations and committees are run. The Senate is also involved with the Interfraternity Council, Student Athlete Advisory Committee and Panhellenic Council. These councils strive to create a well-balanced society that is based on academics, philanthropy, friendship, and leadership.

The Senate previously had representatives from both the Men’s Student Senate and the Women’s Student Government. The Men's Senate acted as a coordinating body between the University administration and the student body, to foster and direct student sentiment in the direction of general cooperation, unified college spirit, promotion of beneficial student activities, and uphold the University ideals.

The Senate and student government as a whole organize and sponsor numerous campaigns (e.g. volunteering) and events on campus including lectures, debates, the Winter Carnival, and Maine Day. The Senate also participates in the voting process for University awards such as the Distinguished Faculty Award. The Senate have also gotten involved in political and social action for example, in the 1970s they endorsed protests in reaction to the Vietnam War.

Senate members are also involved in other student organizations in Maine, regionally, and nationally. During the 1970s senators participated in the Maine Public Interest Research Group which was established in 1973 as a public advocacy corporation representing the concerns of Maine college students. PIRG was funded by Maine college students at the University of Maine, Colby College, and College of the Atlantic.