Wednesday’s ASUO Senate meeting was largely concerned with the budget models proposed by three major ASUO committees: the Programs Finance Committee, the EMU Board and the Athletics and Contracts Finance Committee. In total, the Senate approved almost $10 million in funding to the three committees. Each committee will now be responsible in the coming months for distributing those dollars to student groups and contracts for the 2009-10 school year.
In addition to setting benchmarks, the Senate also approved nearly $5,000 in funds from its surplus to student groups. Following is a detailed breakdown of the Senate’s decisions.
SPECIAL REQUESTS
Japanese Student Organization
? The request: $1,000 from Senate surplus to compensate for a loss on last year’s Japan Night
? The decision: Request granted by a margin of 17 senators for, none against, one abstaining (17-0-1)
? Total allocation: $1,000 Special request from the executive
? The request: $5830.34 from Senate surplus to compensate expenses of the ASUO Executive for this year’s Northwest Student Leadership Conference
? The decision: Request denied (3-10-5)
? Senators proposed a compromise to refund only travel and registration costs, but not lodging for a total of $3,625
? Compromise motion passed (14-0-5)
? Total allocation: $3,625
OUTLAWs
? The request: $362.28 from Senate surplus to compensate for shortfall in OUTLAWs, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer advocacy group for the School of Law, cost projections for trip to San Francisco for Lavender Law conference.
? The decision: Request granted (9-2-4)
? Total allocation: $362.28
Programs Finance Committee benchmarks
? Approved benchmark: An increase of 5.35 percent on the current budget to $1,725,304
? Benchmarks approved (12-1-4)
? Sen. Derek Nix (voted no): “I’m not against growth. I’m against taxing students more and more every year.”
? Sen. Sandy Weintraub (voted yes): “What is the point of having student organizations if they don’t have an incentive to grow?
EMU Board benchmarks
Approved benchmark: A 7 percent increase on the current budget, to $4,552,828
? Benchmarks approved (14-0-3)
? ASUO President Sam Dotters-Katz: “If we could get more than 7 percent, I’d be in favor of it.”
? Sen. Nick Schultz (voted yes): “This is a no-brainer.”
Athletics and Contracts Finance Committee benchmarks
? Approved benchmark: A 7 percent increase on the current budget to $3,539,257
? Benchmarks approved (10-4-3)
? Includes renewal of The New York Times subscription, but not Lane Transit District contract, for which the ASUO is seeking the creation of an independent fee.
? The proposal voted upon was for a substantial decrease in benchmarks, but senators set a 7 percent increase, the maximum allowable under state law, in case the proposal to create the transportation services fee fails. That is despite the fact that adding the LTD contract to the budget would require a 12 to 13 percent increase, Dotters-Katz said.
? Sen. Hailey Sheldon (voted yes): “The LTD is a very important thing.”
Vision statement for ASUO Senate
? Sen. Kate Jones’ proposal: “We’re here to accurately represent the opinions and concerns of the University of Oregon students and to relate those to the ASUO Executive, administration and others.”
Lane Transit District Resolution
? Sent to rules committee for review.
For a more detailed breakdown of the ASUO meeting, visit the blog section at dailyemerald.com
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