Speaker of the Faculty and Chair of the Academic Senate Stuart Sims opened California State University, Stanislaus, (Stan State), latest Academic Senate Meeting that discussed matters such as the new public transit system, speaker nominations and the renaming of Stan State’s Reflection Pond.
Senate members listened intently while they took notes and asked questions of clarification or sought further information on certain issues regarding the wellness of students and faculty members.
With nearly every seat in the room filled, Sims began by opening the meeting to announcements made by Senate members.  Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) Representative Brandon Demers (junior, Political Science) announced that ASI would be giving presentations in Stan State’s classrooms to explain the new public transit system.
Sims said that the idea was “fantastic” and Senate members were encouraged to sign up for their classes to be visited by ASI.
ASI would further explain questions like those posed by Senate Member Mark Thompson who asked, “Who is it open to?”
Yet another issue brought to the Senate’s attention was the nominations for the new speaker of Academic Senate Meetings.   
“It’s a whole process,” Speaker-elect Cathlin Davis said. “We send out our request to all of the faculty to tell us what committees they wish to be on, and they fill out this form. Today committees met and went over that information and what the committees thought.”
Davis further elaborated that the nomination committee has to confirm the individuals interested in signing up on the nomination ballot through a list sent out to the faculty before any nominees are announced.  
“We haven’t confirmed the members on the ballot yet,” Davis said. The “self-nominations” have yet to be announced.
Davis also stated that Sims had been very adept at moving many issues forward that “required someone to be on top of it.”
Though Sims compared his last few weeks as the speaker of the faculty and chair of the Academic Senate to running a long race, he encouraged other Senate members to take on the responsibility themselves.
“It’s been intense, but I can guarantee you that I am coming out of here as the elected speaker feeling better about where I work than I ever have in my career because I know the institution better,” Sims said. “I’ve gained a really tremendous appreciation for how many very hardworking, tremendous people we have working in all of our roles throughout the university.”
Sims remarked that he felt much more connected to the university, with much more pride for the work that is put into it than he did before he took on his role in the Senate. He said that it was a “privilege” to work in a role that oversaw so many successful projects.
“If you are at all inclined to do it or feel like it might be too much, I assure you that you will grow into it and it takes time,” Sims said.
Senate members and meetings attendees were handed a notice that asked the Stan State Academic Senate to confirm the renaming of Stan State’s Reflecting Pond in honor of Marvalene Hughes, a former Stan State president.
According to Sims, President Ellen Junn wanted to make the renaming fully aware to the Senate before it was announced at Junn’s inauguration on March 30.
A few Senate members expressed concern towards the renaming, questioning whether or not the pond would be more about donors than recognition of the former president’s achievements.
Vice President for University Advancement Michele Lahti was there to answer questions regarding the issue and announced that a plaque and ceremony would also accompany the renaming.
“They want to seek people to honor,” Sims responded. The speaker of the faculty then cast a vote that was unanimous—the pond would be renamed.