The Student Senate hosted an efficient meeting, Feb. 28, with members being held in the conference room on the third floor Stover for under 30 minutes as they discussed topics including Relay for Life and revisions to Waynesburg’s current trash and recycling systems.

For a portion of the meeting, the members separated into three committees to meet with their groups and discuss and brainstorm ongoing projects. The senators were able to self-assign themselves to one of the three committees, which include recycling and beautification, special events planning and budgets.

Each committee has a separate focus and area of specialization within the senate’s duties, with the budgeting committee allocating the senate’s budget to projects and assessing expenditures that occurred during the week.

Following the committee meetings, a member of each group reports team updates and initiatives for to update the senate on current initiatives.

TJ DeNoforio, sophomore pre-law major and president of the student senate,

“Everyone gets in there and really effectively and quickly talks about what they’re trying to plan,” DeNoforio said.

The committees are adjusted as issues within the senate fluctuate in importance. In previous years, the senate has had committees dedicated to the former coffee bar and altering their constitution.

In their meetings, which are open to the public as mandated by their constitution, DeNoforio, as president, tries to focus on creating more non-quantifiable goals rather than “physical ones” that the senate has had in the past.

“I think the transition that we’re trying to take now is that we’re focusing on what kind of events we can put on to fulfill the needs of the student body,” DeNoforio said.

Of his goals include the idea of hosting a “mini-THON,” which, according to DeNoforio, would be taking Penn State University’s initiative to fundraise against childhood cancer on a smaller scale to better fit Waynesburg’s campus.

“We plan on going out within the communities and volunteering to collect money,” DeNoforio said. “Also, to do little events throughout the week.”

DeNoforio also mentioned the senate’s intentions to host a trip to Washington D.C. in collaboration with other on-campus organizations.

Dr. Lawrence Stratton, advisor to the student senate, watched as the senators unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting following brief updates and discussions among the members.

“We run, in my opinion, very efficiently,” DeNoforio said. “We’re kind of straight to the point.”