Faculty Senate's Student Affairs Committee has two quarters to establish its own identity, or it may be absorbed by other committees.

"We haven't been doing a whole lot lately," said Stephen Reilly, committee chairman. "A lot of things that fall into our area, like grade changes, seem to overlap with the Educational Policy Committee. I don't think this committee has done much of anything the last few years."

Butch Hill, ombudsman and former Faculty Senate president, said the lack of involvement by the committee is not because it does not care about students.

"The Student Affairs Committee has been waxed and waned over the years," he said. "It is just so similar to Educational Policy (Committee). Once you take out everything involving students and education there just isn't much left over."

While the future of the committee may be in question, no one is doubting its importance.

The committee has handled several different issues in the past, said Margret Appel, Faculty Senate vice-chairwoman.

"I do know that a few years ago it did do a consensual relations policy involving faculty and student relationships," she said.

Faculty Senate Chairman Louis Wright, who estimated the committee has been around for at least 30 years, said it acts as a liaison between the Student Senate and Graduate Student Senate.

"Things that affect the student body and activities are addressed by the committee," he said. "For instance, it may look into the excuse policy for students missing a great deal of classes."

Reilly said he plans to attend Student Senate and Graduate Student Senate meetings and ask for input.

"I'm concerned about how the Faculty Senate may be able to help students," he said. "I'm hoping to go to their meetings and say, ÔHi, I'm Steve Reilly on the Student Affairs Committee, and I was wondering what's bugging you guys.' It's important we have contact with the student senates.

"We have to pick our battles carefully, though. We don't have a lot of clout with the upper administration. We try to pick battles with the hope that something good will come from them."

Tony Eufinger, Student Senate's University Committees coordinator, said he thinks the senates will have a good working relationship this year.

"I've met with Dr. Wright and, from what we talked about, I think things will go well for all of us this season," he said.

Reilly will report back to the Faculty Senate Executive Committee at the end of Winter Quarter and make a recommendation based on his findings, Wright said.

Should Reilly decide his committee is no longer needed, reorganization could take place within the Faculty Senate's committees.

"Some of the committees, like Finance, just don't have enough people to handle the workload," Reilly said. "We're also so close to Educational Policy, it would be easy to combine with them."