This week, Student Senators hit the big screen. At a shortened meeting Thursday, the Communications committee previewed Senate promotional clips that will be aired before McConomy movies.

The briefs, directed by BHA senior Jon Martofel, are designed to inform the general student body about projects on which their Senators are working and encourage students to become involved in their government. One clip spoofed The Graduate, and another Pulp Fiction. Memorable scenes were overdubbed with Senate-related dialogue; as Uma Thurman danced with John Travolta, for instance, her voice-over explained Senate's funding and recognition process. Each clip ended with the charge: "Shape campus life. Shape campus community."

In other news, following the perceived success of this semester's trial Collegiate Readership program, Student Government has proposed resuming the service next year; to do so, however, would require charging undergraduate students with a newspaper fee of $4 or $6, depending on whether the cost would be shared with graduate students.

Senators then voted on a referendum to add such a charge to next year's student activities fee. They considered the damage national newspapers might do to circulation of The Tartan, and whether graduate students would also be privy to the service or subjected to a similar charge. Many senators voted in favor of the referendum, which is still unofficial at this point.

Communications chair Maureen Burns reported a successful resident turnout and productive discussion at the most recent "free pizza information session," but expressed extreme discontent at the absence of senators at the meeting. She expressed her belief that central to a Senator's job is communication with constituents.

"We're not here just to rubber-stamp motions that [the funding and recognitions committee] brings up," she said.

Student body Vice President Julie Beckenstein reported that the most recent meeting regarding PAT funding went "interestingly"; though officials in Harrisburg support bus services, they are unwilling to dispense funding because the legislatures don't feel that the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia city councils have done their part in budgeting.

"It is by no means a won battle, but a battle that we can win, and we will win," she said.

Other committees did not share ex-officio reports; they are on hold until next week's meeting, which will be the last this semester. Chair and standing committee chair elections will also be held at that time.

There is still a vacancy for a CFA senator; interested undergraduates should submit signed nomination petitions to UC Box 46 at the Info Desk.

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