Henning takes office as Student Senate president

UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., administers the oath of office to incoming Student Senate President Jonathan Henning, center, and Vice President Casey Bowen.

On Thursday, Jonathan Henning formally accepted the challenge of serving as UNMC Student Senate president for 2007.

The third-year medical student from Lincoln will lead 33 senators this year in influencing university policy and promoting the interests of all UNMC students.

UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., Thursday administered the oath of office to Henning and third-year medical student Casey Bowen of Omaha, who will serve as UNMC Student Senate vice president. The 2006 Student Senate leadership team also includes: Curtis McKnight of Fremont, secretary, and Sarah Keim of Chadron, treasurer. Dr. Maurer also administered the oath to incoming senators from the various educational areas.

“The Student Senate on this campus has been of critical importance to the mission of the medical center,” Dr. Maurer said. “Student Senate leaders represent the issues facing students. Sometimes they’re small issues to us, but big issues to the students. Unless we know about it, we can’t do anything about it.”

Student Senate officers for 2007 are, from left, Curtis McKnight, secretary, Jonathan Henning, president, Casey Bowen, vice president, and Sarah Keim , treasurer.

In recent years, student issues have ranged from locker and dressing room needs to “their biggest request” for a swimming pool, Dr. Maurer said. A pool is included in UNMC’s 2006-2015 facilities development plan as a potential long-term goal.

Among this year’s challenges, Dr. Maurer said, is the university’s biennial budget request, which was announced hours earlier. Gov. Dave Heineman’s budget recommendations included a proposed increase in the university’s budget of 1.1 percent in fiscal year 2008 and 2.2 percent in fiscal year 2009. The increase falls below the level of support requested in the Board of Regents biennial budget request and could result in tuition increases.

“We don’t like that option,” Dr. Maurer said. “We’re in the first inning of a nine-inning game with the legislature, so we’ll see what happens.”

Henning, who also serves as a non-voting member of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, sees great opportunities as Student Senate president.

“It is truly an honor to represent the UNMC student body,” he said. “It is an exciting time here at UNMC. There is considerable forward momentum. We see the products of this energy rising up all around us. We see new buildings surround our institution and a university thrive in the face of harsh fiscal realities. We see a vibrant student body working hard to make Omaha a better city and providing necessary services around the state. The view from where I stand is truly spectacular because of the broad shoulders of previous classes, administration and faculty.”

Henning said he would continue working to maintain faculty salaries at or above their national peers. He also would continue representing student interests with designers and planners updating the UNMC Center for Healthy Living and new Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education.

Dan Connealy, left, receives a “Distinguished Service Award” for his role as outgoing Student Senate president from incoming president Jonathan Henning.

Dr. Maurer and Henning praised the leadership of outgoing senate president Dan Connealy and vice president Mike Furasek, who worked to secure faculty compensation at or above national averages for similar institutions, helped ensure student confidentiality and safety for personal health records, as well as for background checks of UNMC students, and helped inform the public about Initiative 423, a spending lid that was defeated last fall.

“They made an awesome team,” Dr. Maurer said.