Kevin Rabas, president of Faculty Senate, associate professor of English and co-director of creative writing, said at the senate’s meeting last Tuesday that the Memorial Union Corporation Board will be forced to raise the prices for the student meal plan by 4 percent, due to rising food prices caused by the drought.

He also said that the committee had voted “no” on instating the Faculty of the Year Award, and that Shonrock has been thinking about providing a bus for students that would make stops at the college and other places in town, such as WalMart. The objection was brought forth that Emporia already has a bus that students use, the L-Cat. The discussion was tabled until more information could be brought forth.

The senate also voted to commend Carol Russell, professor of early childhood development, for her work with the Tuition Assistance Program at their meeting last Tuesday. Her accomplishments were stated in the resolution created by the Faculty Affairs Committee, and read by Tanja Steigner, associate professor of business and education and chair of the committee

“Carol Russell, while serving as Faculty President for the 2009-2010 academic year, initiated a taskforce charged with creating a plan for a tuition waiver program, became a member of the tuition assistance taskforce…and spent many hours creating and finalizing the plan,” Steigner said, reading from the resolution. “Whereas, largely because of (her) steadfast dedication and selfless efforts and her leadership, the Tuition Assistance Program is in place today.”

President Michael Shonrock spoke briefly at the meeting, thanking the faculty for helping students and reminding them that it is all about “student learning outcomes.”

“Can the Bods kicked off on Oct. 1, and we’ve had a lot of scores so far,” said Stuart Sneath, vice president of Associated Student Government and senior sociology major, reporting for President Brooke Schmidt. “We’re working with the bookstore getting discounts. You bring a can and you get 5 percent off; it goes all the way up to five cans (for) 25 percent off. We had a great year last year. ESU raised over 30,000 cans.”

Gwen Alexander, interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, spoke about a new policy concerning faculty attendance at student commencement ceremonies. If the faculty member teaches only on the graduate or undergraduate level, they will only be required to attend the ceremony for the graduating students on that level, rather than attending both. It was tabled until the next meeting.

The next meeting will be at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 6 in the Preston Family Room in Memorial Union.