Exchange Students Affinity Group
All currently matriculated exchange students at Yale-NUS are members of this affinity group. The group was formed in January 2019. The current Student Senators for this group are: Elias König & Mina Aoki.
What is the Senate?
The Senate is the Legislative Body of the Student Government. Comprising of the Speaker, four Class Senators (one per class), up to eight Deputy Class Senators (two per class) and an uncapped number of Student Senators, it directs the policies, visions and direction of Student Government and is empowered to write and pass Resolutions and Statements. All members of the Senate have full powers to deliberate concerns on the Senate floor, write and sponsor Resolutions and statements, and full voting powers. Public members of the student body are welcome to attend Senate sessions and are permitted to contribute public comment on the floor, at the discretion of the Speaker.
Senate sessions are run by Robert’s Rules of Orders.
Why join the Senate?
Created as part of the Student Government Strategic Reforms over the Summer of 2018, the Senate is intended as a radical enhancement of the relevance and utility of Student Government as a core platform for student advocacy and shared governance in Yale-NUS.
“The Senate is a reconceptualisation of Student Government as more than just a bridge or a representative body, but a broad-based coalition of diverse student groups and advocacy causes”
Current Senators & Committees
Speaker & Class Senators:
Speaker
Shim Taesun | Class of 2022 | Elm College
taesun.shim@u.yale-nus.edu.sg
Class of 2020 Representative
Fiona Grace Freeman-Grundei | Class of 2020 | Elm College
fiona.freemangrundei@u.yale-nus.edu.sg
Class of 2021 Representative
Class of 2022 Representative
Ng Jun Jie | Class of 2022 | Elm College
jun_jie97@u.yale-nus.edu.sg
Class of 2023 Representative
Ahn Yehoon | Class of 2023 | Saga College
ahn.yehoon@u.yale-nus.edu.sg
Student Senators:
Committees:
Student Life
Dining Committee: (TBA)
Diversity and Inclusion Committee: Reni Chng (‘21), TBA
Inbetweeners Network Committee: Kristian Marc James Paul ’19, Keith Ang ’19, Khwa Zhong Xuan ’20, Foong Xiu Ting ’21, Hanna Wdzieczak ’21
Academics
Teaching and Learning Committee: Benjamin Yang (‘22)
Languages Committee: Elizabeth Stepton (‘22)
Dean of Faculty Advisory Committee: (TBA)
EVP Academic Affairs Advisory Committee: (TBA)
Public Space Advisory Committee: Don Ferdinando (‘22)
Temporary Committees
2020 Graduation Committee: Rachel Juay (‘20), Celeste Beh (‘20), Khwa Zhong Xuan (‘20), Winnie Li (‘20), Yogesh Tulsi (‘20)
Student Speaker Selection Committee: search in progress
Residential Faculty Selection Advisory Committee: (nil)
Sexual Climate and Policy Committee: Syafiqah Nabilah Bte Shamsheralam ’20, Ethel Pang ’22
Register to join the Senate!
Reach out to the Senate Speaker or your Class Senator, in person or over email, if you would like to apply for your student group to be represented on the Senate.
All applications should include the following:
- At least 10 signatures* (digital or physical) of currently matriculated students who intend to be recognised as an affinity/interest group
- The preferred name of your affinity/interest group
- A description of the unique and definable membership criteria of your affinity/interest group
An internal election of a simple majority will be conducted within a week of the application to elect Student Senators who can represent your group on the Senate with immediate effect.
*Any affinity/interest group that is unable to obtain 10 signatures may appeal directly to the Speaker who may accept your application at their discretion.
- 1 representative for a group of 1-20 students. 2 representatives for a group of 21-50 students. 3 representatives for a group of over 50 students.
- A single individual may be the Senator for multiple constituencies at once. It is therefore possible for one individual to cast multiple contradictory votes.
- Each Student Senator automatically renew their standing in the government at the start of each Senate term of one academic year unless:
- the senator(s) resign(s), at which point a new senator should be elected by the group;
- the represented group votes for the senator(s) to resign, at which point a new senator should be elected by the group;
- the represented group waives its right to representation in the succeeding Senate term and voluntarily withdraws its senatorial position(s).
- Interest and affinity groups and their membership shall be listed by the Speaker and made accessible to the student body-at-large, such that new members may easily register to join the interest or affinity groups.
Reports & Minutes
Adopted Resolutions:
Resolution No. 1: On Academic Workloads & Wellness (AY 2018/2019)
Resolution No. 2: Constitutional Amendments to Create Senatorial Roles (AY 2018/2019)
Resolution No. 3: Adoption of Standing Rules for Student Senators (AY 2018/2019)
Resolution No. 4: Enhancing Sustainability (AY 2018/2019)
Resolution No. 5: On the Student Effort Contribution (AY 2018/2019)
Resolution No. 6: Exchange Students Voting Rights (AY 2018/2019)
Resolution No. 7: Establishing a Campus Data office (AY 2018/2019)
All Senate Resolutions and Statements may be accessed on OrgSync with your Yale-NUS account
The proceedings of all Senate sessions are recorded. The minutes may be accessed below. Log in with your Yale-NUS account.