Despite expressing reservations about the ASUO Executive’s hiring process, the Student Senate confirmed four new members last night in an emergency meeting.
ASUO President Emily McLain and Vice President Chii-San SunOwen both defended the Executive’s decision not to interview all applicants, including former Senate President Sara Hamilton. Hamilton applied for a seat on the EMU Board, a position she was forced to vacate earlier this year when she was removed from Senate as a result of a grievance filed against her.
The Executive instead appointed Billy Hatch to the EMU Board seat.
“Just because you have sat at this table doesn’t make you the best candidate for it,” McLain said. “Billy brings fresh, new eyes.”
SunOwen said, “You can’t think of those who applied – those who didn’t have a chance to apply.”
Senate had taken issue last year with the Executive’s hiring methods, and Sen. Athan Papailiou said the new Executive had reduced the number of elected Senators on the hiring committee.
“People are being denied out of Senate because of political reasons,” Papailiou said.
The only Senator on the hiring committee, Donnie Kim, argued Hamilton could not be selected because the Constitution Court had not ruled on Hamilton’s appeal of her removal, but earlier this year former ASUO President Jared Axelrod had asked for clarification on the rule, and the court said nothing barred Hamilton from appointment.
McLain said, “We interviewed those we felt were qualified.”
Sen. Neil Brown said, “I think we could have a more qualified candidate and I think we should look for one.”
The Senate initially voted to not confirm the appointment of Diego Hernandez, who was the Executive appointment to a Programs Finance Committee seat. Hernandez is a strong advocate for student unions.
Sen. Papailiou pointed out to Hernandez that “the incidental fee is not just affecting groups.”
Two appointments were confirmed with little discussion. Filling the Senate seat for education and journalism majors is Patrick Boye and and serving in another Programs Finance Committee seat is Steven Wilsey.
After three new members were confirmed, Sen. Nate Gulley opened the agenda to add Hernandez back on as a new appointee.
On the confirmation of both Hatch and Hernandez, SunOwen cast the affirmative tie-breaking vote. All the appointments with the exception of Wilsey will serve on the summer senate committee.
The Senate also heard the Executive’s offer to give $6,000 for new drums for the Oregon Marching Band. Last week, the Senate allocated money for an entire drumline, but the move was vetoed because Senate did not have the funds available in an over-realized account.
The Executive asked Senate for an additional $414.62 to fulfill the cost of a new drum set, but Senate instead authorized spending $20,689 of surplus funds, which will make up the difference between the Executive’s allocation and the drumline’s $26,689 purchase price.
No one took minutes during the meeting, a violation of the Oregon Public Meetings Law and Student Senate rules as laid out in the Green Tape Notebook. Gulley and SunOwen also ignored part of Hatch’s presentation to watch a slideshow of photos on SunOwen’s computer.
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