The ASUO Senate spent the vast majority of its meeting Wednesday night discussing a massive overhaul in the way student government officials are paid. The new stipend model proposed would give a raise to almost every person in student government.
The stipend model proposed by a committee made up of senators, executive staff and program leaders gave $25 more per month to every Finance Committee member who does not also sit on  the senate.
The recommendation also proposed to combine the stipends of finance senators and then average the amounts they would receive — as opposed to the current method of paying a separate stipend for their service on the senate and on the Finance Committee. Most of these senators would also be given raises which would vary by their committee, ranging from zero for EMU Board senators to almost $40 per month for PFC senators. Academic senators would all receive an additional $75 per month.
Executive staff would get a $100 per month raise, while the Chief of Staff would receive an additional $125 per month. The president and vice president would get an additional $50 per month.
Program directors and coordinators — the people who run student groups — would each get an additional $50 per month. But the biggest change to program leaders’ stipends would be the creation of an additional program director position to any group that has a programming budget of more than $1,000. This would allow an additional $225 per month for any group at that level.
Members of the Elections Board, Summer Senate and Constitution Court would not receive a stipend increase.
Before the issue could be discussed, how to vote on the outcome of the issue had to be decided, which was a discussion in and of itself.
Eventually, it was concluded that senators who are not currently holding a two-year seat, which does not continue through next year, could vote.
Sen. Ben Rudin@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Rudin@@ had a simple solution: “If you think your interpretation (of the rules) is sound, vote for this and I’ll grievance you tomorrow,” Rudin said.
Some senators were concerned about the amount of money the increase would cost.
“Before I can confidently vote on anything, I need some sort of number,” Sen. Kaitlyn Lange said.@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Kaitlyn+Lange@@
Sen. Emma Newman@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Emma+Newman@@ calculated that, based on the current number of programs who would receive an additional stipend position, all of the stipend increases would amount to a 1.56 percent increase to the current incidental fee, which would add up to around $205,622.
Others were upset that other options hadn’t been consulted, such as a tuition reimbursement model that other universities practice. “Maybe we should switch from a stipend to something else if we’re doing this based on access,” Lange added.
Such a model would require assistance and support of the University administration, which was not sought — much to the chagrin of a number of senators.
“Why are we trying to fix this ourselves? That is a lie that we don’t have other options,” Sen. Bri Woodside-Gomez said.@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Woodside-Gomez+@@
“We’re making decisions that could affect students for the next 5, 10, 15 years,” Sen. Lindy Mabuya@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Lindy+Mabuya@@ said. “I think many people just have a hard issue asking for help.”
Others were insisting that the options presented were the best move available.
“We can’t guarantee that they’re going to agree to give us tuition wavers,” ASUO Vice President Katie Taylor@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Katie+Taylor@@ said. “If we don’t approve this, who knows when the next time it’ll be increased. The stipend model is broken and this is a fix.”
The two-hour long discussion was concluded with a vote to table the issue until next week. The Stipend Model Committee will be doing additional research into alternative proposals during the coming week.
Earlier in the meeting, second-year law student Jerad Nicholson@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=jerad@@ was confirmed as the newest associate justice of the Constitution Court.
Nicholson addressed concerns that the Court was not responsive to the rest of student government and took too much time coming to its decisions.
“I know just from talking to people in the ASUO that things take too long,” he said.
“I have heard rumors about Con Court not actually meeting in person to decide decisions,” Sen. Emma Newman@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Emma+Newman@@ said. “How do you feel about that?”
“I definitely think there’s a value in in-person meetings,” Nicholson replied.
Nicholson went on to be confirmed by a vote of 17-0, with Lange abstaining.