Eleven grievances were filed against an ASUO senator that, if found to be true, could make him lose his Senate position.
EMU Board member Michelle Haley said she filed the grievances Wednesday against Senate Treasurer Nathan Perley to combat senators’ widespread noncompliance with ASUO rules. Eight charges were filed against him as Senate treasurer and three as an ASUO senator.
“There’s an unwritten understanding among senators that ‘I am in noncompliance, you’re in noncompliance, but let’s not step on each other’s toes,’” Haley said.
Senate President Alex McCafferty rejected those claims, saying many of Haley’s grievances were based on a set of new rules that were not in place long enough to apply when the grievances were filed.
“You’re not bound by rules that haven’t been made law yet,” Sen. Kate Jones said.
Grievances filed against Senator PerleyAs senate Treasurer 1. Senate Rule 3.4(b): The Senate Treasurer shall provide a weekly report on the remaining surplus funds, over-realized funds and the Student Senate program budget.* 2. Senate Rule 3.4(c): The Senate Treasurer shall organize fund-raising activities and collect all moneys raised. 3. Senate Rule 3.4(e): The Senate Treasurer shall assist any Senators with financial questions. 4. Senate Rule 3.4(f): The Senate Treasurer shall act as a financial liaison between the ASUO Controllers and the Student Senate. 5. Senate Rule 3.4(g): The Senate Treasurer shall review Special Requests that come before the Student Senate and bring a copy of programs ledger and budget to the Student Senate Hearing. 6. Senate Rule 3.4(h): The Senate Treasurer shall work in collaboration with Student Executive Programs Administrator to act as a resource for ASUO programs, departments and contracts.* 7. Senate Rule 8.2(c): The Chair of the Finance Committee shall be the Student Senate Treasurer. 8. ASUO Constitution Rule 4.6: Conflict of interest prohibited. No member holding an elected position on the Student Senate … may vote on the budget of any ASUO or EMU program in which they will be holding a paid position in which the fiscal budget is in effect. This section shall be construed so as to prohibit conduct that creates the appearance of a conflict of interest. As ASUO Senator 9. Senate Rule 5.2(d): (An) Academic Senator’s office hours shall be posted in the departments, programs, schools and colleges that he or she represents in addition to being posted in the ASUO Office. 10. Senate Rule 5.2(f): Student Senators shall log their office hours with the Student Senate Ombudsperson.* 11. Senate Rule 5.1(l): All senators must attend orientation and finance training sessions.* *New requirement as of Nov. 7, 2008 Source: Grievance filed against Sen. Nathan Perley |
Six of the grievances pertain to Perley’s duty to make budget information available and facilitate communication on financial matters. Two concern his availability for office hours. The others concern his obligation to form and chair a finance committee, his obligation to fundraise, and conflicts of interest. Four of the counts are wholly or partially based on new rules that were put into place Nov. 7.
Haley and Perley ran for ASUO last year on the same slate, Oregon Action Team, which also included ASUO President Sam Dotters-Katz. Haley said she thought Perley was “a great guy.” Perley said he had not spoken with Haley since the grievances were filed.
“I don’t want to see Sen. Perley out of office,” Haley said, but added, “I don’t think it should be OK that everyone slacks off.”
Perley wasn’t the only senator Haley could have chosen, as many senators are in noncompliance, she said. She chose Perley in hopes that their friendship would prevent her grievances from being seen as a partisan political gesture.
Another reason Haley targeted Perley was for his recent requests for a $50 increase to the Senate treasurer’s stipend next school year, which she said was inappropriate given his alleged breaches of duty.
“I’m not going to be treasurer next year, so I don’t see what (the allegations of noncompliance have) to do with it,” Perley said.
The grievances filed during Wednesday’s Senate meeting shocked the senators. Perley said he was “very emotionally upset,” but added that he was “not going to cry” as he ran down the list of grievances, attempting to refute each one. Most senators in the meeting were supportive of Perley.
“Act in severe caution,” Sen. Emma Kallaway advised Perley. “You are in the right, but you will come out much better if you don’t retaliate in any sort of way. I’m going to put my support in you,” she said.
Perley attributed the grievances during the meeting to comments left on the Oregon Commentator blog. The authors of the comments impersonated Perley and falsely claimed he was planning to run for ASUO president. This created a storm of criticism for Perley on the Web site.
Perley subsequently went to the Commentator’s office and asked the publication’s editor, C. J. Ciaramella, to remove the entire thread of comments. Ciaramella removed only the posts that were falsely made in Perley’s name.
Haley is a member of the Commentator staff, but said she was not motivated by the posts or Perley’s response when filing the claim.
The grievances will go to ASUO Constitution Court for review. There is no set date for the court’s verdict.
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