THE MEETING:
The ASUO Senate met Wednesday night to hear special funding requests, committee updates and discuss executive updates regarding major changes to the over-realized fund, including the contract with Lane Transit District.
THE TENSION:
Viewpoint neutrality: Senate Treasurer Nathan Perley sent an e-mail to the ASUO Senate listserv, sparking a debate about viewpoint neutrality, which is the idea that when a student group makes funding requests to the Senate, the Senate is not supposed to consider the group’s “viewpoint” or ideological stance when deciding on their funding. Their decision should be solely based on how well the group’s request fits into Senate rules.
The e-mail had images and articles from the Student Insurgent, as well as an e-mail from University President Dave Frohnmayer that was sent in 2006 about the Student Insurgent. Perley, a business administration student, said he was unaware of the publication prior to this week’s meeting and he intended only to voice his concern with what he thought might harm the University’s reputation. He said his e-mail was not intended to sway the Senate at last night’s meeting, and that it was only intended to represent his opinion. The consensus during the discussion was that, in the future, e-mails of such nature should not be posted to the Senate listserv.
Decreasing student fees: ASUO Senate President Sam Dotters-Katz informed the Senate that he is finalizing proposed changes to the Clark Document, the ASUO’s governing document, which will allow for a significant decrease in the incidental fee for spring term and alter the rules regarding over-realized spending to be less stringent. Senate opinions of the announcement were varied, ranging from complete support of the changes to strongly opposing them.

Lane Transit District: The last discussion of the night centered around the upcoming changes to ASUO’s contract with LTD. Dotters-Katz told the Senate he would release a memo next week outlining a campus transportation plan for the next three to five years. The plan will propose buying between 65 and 90 percent fewer bus passes than normal, distributing those passes to students in a system similar to football ticket distribution, and significantly increasing the size and scope of both Designated Driver Shuttle and Assault Prevention Shuttle. Discussion about the proposal got heated, as some senators supported the plan while others raised concerns about the quality of service and environmental and community impacts.
THE DECISIONS:
The Student Insurgent requested $884.34 to cover half the cost of a new computer. The Senate did not pass the request, informing the representative from the Insurgent that the proper way to request funds for a new computer was to submit a request for funding from the ASUO Executive’s Major/Minor Equipment fund. They recommended the Insurgent make a new request for the funds from the Senate if their request to the executive fails. The decision was made prior to the discussion about viewpoint neutrality.
A number of minor food holding requests were also passed.
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