University students have the opportunity to choose who they want to guard their pocketbooks in student government for the 2003-04 school year. The ASUO Programs Finance Committee is responsible for allocating approximately $5 million in student incidental fees, and there are five elected seats that need to be filled. There are four people running for ASUO Student Senate Seat 2, a finance senator position that requires participation in both the weekly senate meetings and the annual PFC process.
The Emerald asked each candidate four general questions and also asked two specific questions pertaining to student government to see how rule-savvy this year’s candidates are: What two ways can a special meeting of the senate be called (answer: by the senate president or at the written request of 1/3 of the Senate), and what is the most important part of Senate Rules Section 5, which lists senators’ duties?
Colin Andries is a first-year law student who graduated from the University with a degree in finance last year. He’s currently involved in the Student Bar Association and is running for this student government position because he wants to get involved in the greater University. Andries did not know the two ways the senate can call a special meeting or that Section 5 lists senators’ duties.
Q: What is the most important thing you should know in order to deal with the budget process?
Andries: I don’t know if it’s something you need to know, but I think an ability to logically, reasonably look at all sides of an issue. And I think that’s something that I really do. I mean, especially being in law school, I’ve got the financial background, I have a degree in finance, so I understand how to deal with money. But you have to logically look at all sides of an issue, and I don’t believe everybody knows how to do that. Once you do that then you can make a better, wiser decision and I think that’s a real key to this job, being able to look at the whole side of every issue, look at all groups’ applications and requests from a wide variety of bases.
Q: How would you determine how to spend the senate surplus?
Andries: Well, I think you have to take that on a case-by-case basis. You can’t just make your assumptions right now and say, “Well this is what I want to do.” I mean, if you do that, you’re not looking at the University as a whole, and I don’t know all the books off-hand by now because I haven’t been in the PFC, and I haven’t gone through all the hearings.
Beth Overgard, a freshman political science major, is a member of the Oregon Marching Band, the Oregon Campus Band, the Oregon Concert Choir and Gospel Choir. Overgard also enjoys several outdoor pursuits such as hiking, canoeing, biking, fishing and riding motorcycles. She correctly identified the two ways the senate can call a special meeting, but did not know that Section 5 lists the senators’ duties.
Q: What is the most important thing you should know in order to deal with the budget process?
Overgard: The most important thing to be known is that each group that the PFC funds is in need. Each group has financial shortcomings that are worthy of granting a portion of the surplus. You have to be aware of this going in, otherwise you could mistakenly grant funds disproportionately.
Q: If you are elected, how will you determine how to spend the senate surplus?
Overgard: I will listen to all cases presented with an open mind and disperse the surplus proportionately to the most needy and convincing organizations.
Michael Sherman is in his second year at the University but has earned enough credits to have senior standing. He is a triple major in political science, economics and business and is the incumbent, with a year of experience in the budget allocation process. Sherman knew one of the ways the senate can call a special meeting but did not know the fraction of senators required. Sherman knew Section 5 pertained to senators’ duties but said every duty was important, and he couldn’t choose one over another.
Q: What is the most important thing you should know in order to deal with the budget process?
Sherman: I don’t think there’s really one important thing. I think there’s an entire process that needs to be understood. And that process includes first, the rules that govern that process, which would be the PFC bylaws, Constitution of the ASUO, and then just general senate rules. I really think it’s important for senators and all student leaders to know those rules. I do know the rules fairly well. What’s so hard for new students coming into it, is that they don’t understand how it works. They don’t understand where the groups are coming from and how the precedents should be used in allocating those fees.
Q: How would you determine how to spend the senate surplus?
Sherman: The question is if there will be any surplus next year from senate. If there is surplus from senate next year, it’s an opportunity that you have, that otherwise you would never have. I think when looking at special requests and spending from surplus you have to look at the fundraising that the group has done.
Chris Sittner is a sophomore double major in journalism and economics with a minor in business. Sittner is a native to Eugene and is a staff writer for the Oregon Commentator. He added he felt he would make a good senator because he could “represent some of the unspoken minority of conservatives on campus.” Sittner did not know how the senate can call a special meeting, and he misidentified Section 5 as the guidelines for receiving funds and couldn’t name any senator duties.
Q: What is the most important thing you should know in order to deal with the budget process?
Sittner: I think that people should be very educated on how accounting and finance works, not necessarily that they have to take an accounting class or something, but I think that they should sort of be taught when they become a finance senator the system and given a little tutorial on how everything’s budgeted and how everything’s prioritized.
Q: How would you determine how to spend the senate surplus?
Sittner: I want to spend it with anything I feel is necessary to help benefit the education of students on campus. I’m going to try and be fiscally responsible and I hope student groups are, too. I really only want to help fund student groups that are fiscally responsible. I feel that you should always be open to the other side on arguments so that you can be better educated yourself. I feel that it’s necessary to look at both sides of things, and I think that having a diversity of student groups on campus helps students become more politically and culturally educated.