ASUO senators spent $15,248.89 from their surplus account Wednesday, in addition to electing an ombudsperson — an investigative official who handles internal affairs — and an ASUO representative to the University Senate.
Five of the 10 special requests the Senate reviewed involved rearranging money between budget line items — either to make reimbursement easier or to make sure student groups spend money appropriately.
These requests were from the University pre-med society, the Korean Student Association, the Native American Law Students Association, the Collegiate Music Educators National Conference and the ASUO Executive.
Senators resolved the first three with a few minor clarifying questions along the way before reaching the first surplus request from the Oregon Voice. Because of a budgeting error, the magazine did not receive enough money to print its final publication of the year — the Art Issue.
Sen. Evan Thomas asked why the request was not brought up earlier, and Oregon Voice Publisher Cara Merendino said the problem didn’t present itself until a recent overview of its budget.
The publication’s request was unanimously approved.
University Club Crew asked for $10,000 to go to nationals. The club team is the first University Club Sports team to ask for money to attend a national tournament. Usually, during the middle of spring term, a number of club teams will come before the Senate after they qualify for a tournament, usually adding upwards of $50,000 from the surplus account.
“It’s a lot of money, but I can totally see where the need is for it,” Sen. Grace Hochstatter said before the request’s unanimous approval. “It doesn’t seem like there’s any kind of alternative to this.”
After some deliberation, a $2,898 request from the African Student Association to host the group’s yearly cultural night was unanimously approved.
The Oregon Commentator also presented a request for $375 for sign-making supplies and snacks for the media table, open to all attendees of the weekly Senate meeting. Some senators were upset by the lack of seriousness being paid to the request, which ended with Thomas motioning to end discussion before taking a vote. The discussion-ending motion passed, effectively denying the request.
“I don’t want to be disrespectful, but it seems like we’re funding your snacks and arts and crafts,” Sen. Blake Sedgley said.
Two Oregon Commentator volunteers, Stephen Murphy and Spencer Madison, have taken to writing signs and holding them up at Senate meetings in response to certain remarks by ASUO senators. Their request was made with the hope of making the fragile signs last longer.
The Senate Outreach Committee also presented a request for $300 to pay two videographers who produced an outreach video for the ASUO. Fourteen senators approved the request, while Hochstatter, who made the request, abstained from voting.
Sen. Emma Newman, the only senator in the race for ombudsperson, was approved, while Sen. Kate Bidwell won the vote to replace outgoing Sen. Ian Fielding as an ASUO representative on University Senate.
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