The ASUO Student Senate compensated a controversial lobbying group $2,250 for its cross-country trip, and ASUO Vice President Eddy Morales hinted at governmental racism as senators contemplated creating a new committee in a nearly four-hour meeting Wednesday.
The Senate voted 15-1 to pass a motion authorizing a funds transfer for the United States Student Association to allow the group to pay for a 15-member University-student delegation trip to Washington, D.C.
ASUO President Maddy Melton, who is a member of USSA, told senators that the students on the spring-break trip lobbied on behalf of University students.
Sen. Colin Andries, who voted against the motion, said USSA is a lobbying group that may not have the support of all students and shouldn’t be funded with incidental fees.
But Senate President Ben Strawn said USSA’s mission and goals have already been approved, and the meeting was not the proper forum for such deliberation.
Several senators questioned why USSA requested funds after the group had already paid for and taken the trip — not before. Plane tickets to Washington, D.C., were put on ASUO Accounting Coordinator Jennifer Creighton-Neiwert’s credit card, Morales said.
Melton said she didn’t request the funds before the trip because that would have meant appearing before the Senate during Finals Week.
The Senate also debated creating a student-issues committee that would consider supporting the International Student Association’s request for funds from the President’s Fund.
After speaking in support of ISA, Sen. Rodrigo Moreno-Villamar proposed a motion to create the committee, which would hold the University administration accountable for funding only that specific group.
Sen. Joe Jenkins said it wouldn’t be fair to all students to aid only ISA. After the motion failed, Harding proposed the formation of an interim student-issues committee until the rules committee is able to set up a permanent body, and Sen. Steven Lockfield seconded the motion.
Morales responded, implying senators were discriminatory.
“Rodrigo presented the idea, but now with two white males supporting the motion” it’s being supported, Morales said.
Strawn said he was very offended by Morales’ comment, adding that he respects Moreno-Villamar.
Moreno-Villamar defended the motion as well, saying his ideas weren’t being stolen. It passed 12-4.