On Wednesday night, the Student Senate passed a resolution opposing the use of Tasers on campus, confirmed one of the ASUO’s biggest critics as its newest member, and argued about how to handle senators who come to meetings intoxicated or don’t show up at all.
The Taser resolution “declares opposition to the implementation and use of Tasers by the Department of Public Safety on University of Oregon property” and supports maintaining the current structure of DPS and its contracts with the Eugene Police Department. The contract between the University and EPD is set to expire on June 30.
EPD currently has four officers who patrol campus. Department officers are being trained how to use Tasers.
The resolution also opposes “the purchase, deployment, and/or use of Tasers” regardless of what changes are made to DPS in the future, and “recommends that any future processes regarding restructuring DPS” include the Public Safety Advisory Group, the Senate and the ASUO executive.
The University has sent a list of proposals to the Oregon University System that includes creating a campus police department, deputizing DPS officers, ejecting EPD officers from campus or maintaining the current structure of DPS.
The Senate resolution supports maintaining DPS and opposes all other options.
The advisory group passed a resolution last month that indicated it had no time to comment on the proposals because the proposals were presented to the chancellor of the Oregon University System two days after they were presented to the advisory group.
“Time is against us right now because the wheels are already in motion on this issue,” said Jim Cleavenger, the ASUO graduate and law student advocate who wrote the resolution.
Sen. Nate Gulley amended the Senate resolution to include language encouraging future training of officers to “prioritize preventative measures such as mental health training, diversity training, alternative conflict resolution, community dialogue, and increased cooperation with the University Testing and Counseling Center.”
Senate Vice President Patrick Boye abstained from the vote because he said the way the resolution was amended and voted on was “convoluted.” The 13 other senators present voted for it, including Senate President Athan Papailiou who usually abstains from voting.
Sen. Lee Warnecke said he had reservations about the resolution, but he said it seemed to be “the will of the student body to oppose Tasers on campus.”
Sean Jin appointed to Senate Seat 1
By a narrow margin, the Senate confirmed Sean Jin to the seat on the Programs Finance Committee formerly held by Steven Wilsey. Wilsey resigned earlier this year in protest of a large budget given to the Veterans and Family Student Association.
Jin is a leader of the VFSA and a frequent critic of student government as a writer for the Oregon Commentator.
Sen. Nick Meyers offered his “props to the executive” for appointing someone who has often railed against them.
President Emily McLain said she and Vice President Chii-San SunOwen were not on the hiring committee. Sen. Lee Warnecke, Gender and Sexual Diversity Advocate Zach Wegner and Programs Coordinator Liora Sponko sat on the committee.
Senators’ questioning of Jin turned divisive at times. Sen. Diego Hernandez said he heard Jin did not show up to the previous Senate meeting because if he had he would have been voted down. Jin said he was asked at the last minute to emcee an event for the Students of the Indian Subcontinent and was attending a rehearsal during the meeting.
Hernandez also said he found a recent article by Jin “really offensive” and that in it Jin “attacked me and the community I’m involved with.”
“I wouldn’t feel comfortable with him on the body,” he said.
Sen. Kate Jones disagreed.
“I think Sean Jin is one of the most qualified candidates we have,” she said. And though she said she disagrees with him on almost every issue and expects his “scathing articles” to continue, she said, “You have my vote.”
Jin was confirmed with seven votes. Five senators voted against him and Papailiou abstained.
Sen. Billy Hatch “had two adult beverages” before meeting
Sen. Billy Hatch said Thursday that he was “buzzed” at Wednesday’s meeting. Hatch presented a surplus request on behalf of the Men’s Center and left shortly after.
Later in the meeting, Papailiou said he was “very disappointed” with Hatch.
Sen. Lauren Zavrel told Papailiou that if he was going to address the situation publicly then some solution or action should be taken publicly, and accused Papailiou of only raising concerns so they would be printed in the newspaper.
“This would not be the first time a senator has been drunk at a meeting,” Hatch said Thursday. He said Papailiou has indulged before meetings and has invited Hatch along.
Papailiou said in an interview that was “absolutely not true.”
“It’s inappropriate for people to come intoxicated to Senate meetings when we are appropriating thousands of dollars and representing the University of Oregon,” Papailiou said.
At Wednesday’s meeting, Sen. Hernandez said Hatch’s behavior was unprofessional.
“We should also talk about people who don’t do their office hours or do not show up at all,” he said.
Hernandez was referring to Sen. Kyle McKenzie, who has been absent from two consecutive meetings. In an interview, McKenzie said he was in the Dominican Republic and did not notify senators he would be absent to last week’s meeting. He said he told Papailiou that he would not attend Wednesday’s meeting.
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