The Student Association Senate recognized more than 50 campus organizations Sunday night at its first meeting, although no new senators were sworn in.

After Sen. John Fallon made a motion to approve the entire list of committees with one vote, Sen. Mark Harness argued that the senators needed time to “scrutinize” the bylaws of each organization and should delay the vote until next week.

SA Vice President Steve Coloia said the senate needed to recognize the organizations as soon as possible. “To push them back would not be fair,” he said.

SA President Huda Scheidelman said the first meeting went “very well,” but the SA postponed the senators inauguration until Sunday’s meeting because about twelve were absent.

The swearing-in is “actually a formal procedure. It has nothing to do with legitimacy,” she said. Scheidelman said the process was comparable when she took office, where she was performing the duties of SA president before her actual inauguration.

Coloia said the new senators were able to vote without being sworn in. “It’s not in our constitution or bylaws,” he said. “Once you’re elected, you are a legitimate senator.”

Michelle Emmett, University Programming and Activities director, said the swearing-in of senators is just a “formality.” The senate elections were held earlier this year to “get the senate going,” she said.

Emmett said there was no problem with new senators voting “as long as the intent was followed.”

DeKalb 6th Ward alderman Jamie Pennington, former SA president pro tem, attended the meeting and said he did not know the senators had not been sworn in. “I’m surprised (that the senators voted without being sworn in),” Pennington said.

Sen. Colleen Halliman made a motion to reduce the number of signatures needed to petition for senate candidacy from 200 to 100. During discussion, the senate decided the move was too “rash and premature” and the motion failed.

Halliman revised her motion to say the SA internal affairs committee should review the policy for a reduction in needed signatures. This motion passed.

Coloia announced he and Northern Star campus editor Greg Rivara had agreed to publish SA agendas and minutes in the Star. “Students will be able to talk to their senators or come to the meetings if they see something that interests them.”

Coloia also seeks a senate president pro tem. The person does not need to be politically active, Coloia said, but must have a good knowledge of Robert’s Rules of Order. “I’d like one by the third meeting (on Oct. 1),” he said.

The senate also approved Campus Activities Board President Brett White and four CAB committee coordinators.