The Student Senate made it through its first meeting Monday night, although confusion loomed over when exactly the next gathering of newly-elected senators will take place.

Thirty-one of the 32 elected senators were present to usher in their new terms at the Holmes Student Center’s Clara Sperling Skyroom. All executive officers also were in attendance.

To begin the meeting, the senators were sworn-in by senate speaker Gema Gaete-Tapia. Two senators emeritus, Brad Kuhn and Erik Benbennick, also were sworn in.

After the swearing-in, Student Association President Troy Caldwell delivered his preliminary report, which included things the SA and the executive branch have worked on.

“We want to make sure the Student Association is visible throughout campus as well as throughout DeKalb County,” Caldwell said.

Also part of the plans are to enhance and promote safety around campus and to work with the Greek Row community, Caldwell added.

Gema Gaete-Tapia gave what may be her last report as the senate speaker. In the report, she addressed the senator vacancies. For those who wish to fill in the open senate positions, names must be given to the clerk. However, the seats will not be filled until the fourth senate meeting.

NIU transfer student DuJuan Smith was at the meeting looking to fill one of those seats.

“Just walking around the campus and basically seeing the [SA] doing all the various things got me wanting to get involved,” Smith said. “It’s just something I think I could get into.”

During the meeting, a new clerk was approved to record the minutes of each meeting. The new senate clerk is Lety Reyes, who also has served as the secretary of the Organization of Latino American Students.

“I know it’s work, but that’s a challenge I am willing to take,” Reyes said during the meeting.

The first bit of business during the meeting came when senator Stephen Kulovits motioned for the approval of the budget for organizations listed during SA treasurer Karega Harris’ report. The motion was passed, and the funding will be voted on next week.

Next came the nominations for a new senate speaker to replace Gaete-Tapia as of the end of next Monday’s meeting.

“I just want to remind the senators that they are here to represent the students’ interests and not their own,” Gaete-Tapia said. “The students put [the senators] in that position to work for them.”

The nominations for the new speaker included senators Shawn McGady, Steve Doroseau, Jeff Meyer and Happy Oboh and Kevin Miller, the current SA director of governmental affairs.

Senators also debated meeting time and place. At the moment, the meetings are held at 7 p.m. Mondays in the Skyroom.

A debate took place when some of the senators requested that the meetings take place at 6 p.m. Sundays, like the previous year. Voting for the meeting time will take place at the next senate meeting.

Despite the confusion, the meeting went well, Caldwell said.

“It was a productive meeting,” Caldwell said. “I’m really excited about the senate body because they really wanted to get the issues of the students out on the table and make a

change.”