by Brian Douglas
of The Current staff

With the move to split the University Senate still pending the approval of the Board of Curators, Senate elections will be held according to the current bylaws.

Last semester, the Senate approved a revision of the governance structure which would split the legislative body into two groups, a faculty senate and a University-wide assembly. Implementation of the new structure requires the approval of the Board of Curators. Jeanne Zarucchi, Senate Chair, said the proposal was on the agenda for the Board's March meeting, which is scheduled to take place March 23-24.

Zarucchi emphasized the importance of continuing to follow the old Senate bylaws, which are still in effect.

"Having the proposal on the agenda does not guarantee that the Board will take action and there is no certainty as to how the Board will act," Zarucchi said.

Zarucchi said that if the Board does approve the revision, it may not go into immediate effect. If approved, Zarucchi said the Board would also decide when the new governance structure would be implemented.

In the meantime, normal Senate elections will be held. Zarucchi said the primary ballots for the election of faculty members to the Senate had already been distributed, with a return date of Feb. 18. Candidates selected in the primaries would then be voted on by faculty members campus-wide.

The election of student Senate members is also going forward. Joe Frank announced on behalf of the Student Election Subcommittee that student senator elections will take place March 1-2. He said polls would be set up at Lucas Hall, Marillac Hall, the Pierre Laclede Honors College and the University Center. Frank said candidacy forms for student senators would be available at the Evening College, Pierre Laclede and the Student Activities Office.