Senate approves $2,000

for business symposium
The ASUO Student Senate approved a request for more than $2,000 from the Sustainable Business Symposium, and ASUO Vice President Eddy Morales broke an unusual tie during a two-hour meeting on Wednesday.

The request, a $2,230 transfer from the senate’s surplus funds, will go to pay for advertising and speaker fees connected with the symposium. Representatives from the symposium asked for financial help from the senate because of reduced donations from EWEB and other groups.
“It’s a lot of secondary effect that we’re feeling from Oregon’s economy,” said Patrick Carr, a second-year graduate student involved with the symposium.
The senate expressed dismay that the group failed to distribute some necessary paperwork, but senators approved the request anyway.
“It’s a down economy, they need help from us, and I feel this is one of those groups we should really support,” Sen. Colin Andries said.
Morales broke a tie regarding nominations for student representatives to the senate by casting a vote for Sen. Jesse Harding.
“It’s important that we have people who are going to stand up to speak about things,” Harding said. Harding said students need to be more involved in decisions regarding the student conduct code, adding that students also need to be better informed about how they can initiate complaints against faculty.
The senate also approved a request by Conflict Resolution Services to fund three student positions. The positions are restorative justice program coordinator, publications and Web site coordinator and program assistant.
“It’s already in my budget,” Conflict Resolution Services Director Annie Bentz said.
The senate had to rectify a mistake made at its Oct. 8 meeting when it approved the job description for the Ecological Design Center’s curriculum director but didn’t properly fund the position. The money sat in an account for a position that no longer existed.
The Women’s Law Forum made a successful request to transfer $325 of the group’s funds to pay for food at a group event. The senate approved a similar motion by the Muslim Student Association for $154.
The senate decided to postpone working on mission and goals statements.

— Chuck Slothower