Campus News

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Updated: January 16, 2012 8:02AM

Prospective and current college students want to know that their concerns and opinions are being carefully considered by university administrators. At Benedictine University, the Student Senate is their voice. Daniel Karlovitz, of Elmwood Park, a business and economics major, is a member of the Student Senate at Benedictine University.

The Student Senate is not just a promoter of change on campus. It has also created a variety of volunteer and fund-raising activities that serve the surrounding community.

The Student Senate recently secured the cooperation of the Benedictine University Police Department to create a Ticket Amnesty Program. Students who receive tickets for nonalcohol or nondrug-related offenses can bring donations of four yards of fleece, two children’s toys or 15 canned goods to the Benedictine Student Success Center and have their ticket expunged.

The Student Senate is also leading canned good drives to benefit local food pantries and other charities. Joan Henehan, Student Senate advisor said, “We have already collected close to 2,000 cans.”

Working on a community service project at the DuPage County Convalescence Home, raising funds for the HOPE scholarship for those whose lives have been affected by cancer, and hosting its annual “Breakfast with Santa” in the Krasa Student Center are other activities of the Student Senate.

“Breakfast with Santa” will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 17. The Krasa Dining Room will be transformed into a winter wonderland where children of all ages will be able to meet Santa, Mrs. Claus and his hard-working elves. The cost is $10 per person. Free to children under age 2.

Benedictine University is an independent Roman Catholic institution located in Lisle, Ill., just 25 miles west of Chicago.

Cody Carini, of River Grove, enrolled this fall as a freshman at DePaul University in Chicago.

Andrea Mazza, of River Grove, a senior majoring in communication sciences and disorders at Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill., participated in the college’s fourth annual “Christmas at Augustana” holiday concert Dec. 2-3.