Senate OKs special requests
The ASUO Senate approved special requests from the Japanese Student Organization, Students of the Indian Subcontinent, the International Students Resource Center and Students for Choice on Wednesday evening. It also amended a special request from KWVA.
The Senate released $100 from the Japanese Student Organization food holding account to the group’s food account to remedy an accounting error.
The Senate also approved a $780 release to Students of the Indian Subcontinent’s food account to partially fund the catering for its annual event, Utsav, to be held this weekend.
The International Student Resource Center had $130 released for food for a reception next week.
KWVA presented its special request for funds to cover the licensing fees it is mandated to pay. The station had to pay for additional webcasting this year. Several senators felt uncomfortable funding the licensing fees when the station no longer has a promotions director, a stipend position funded through the station’s budget. There was also debate about whether webcasting is a worthwhile service when the station has to pay additional fees.
The Senate eventually decided to transfer the $1,050 originally allocated to fund the stipend position to pay for the station’s licensing fees.
A quibble over $72 worth of deficit spending by the organization Students for Choice dominated the rest of the meeting. The group had missed the deadline to release funds from its food holding for the “condom cake” for its Roe v. Wade event. The discussion over the issue exploded into a debate about the fiscal responsibility of deficit spending.
“I would encourage the Senate to make rules about deficit spending so these issues won’t come up,” said ASUO Controller Christina Diss, who handled the group’s spending .
The Senate’s decided to transfer the $72 from the group’s food holding to its food account to cover the deficit spending. The group’s request for $185 for the purchase and installation of a phone was passed unanimously.

— Moriah Balingit

Dems, Republicans to debate
The University College Republicans and College Democrats promise to inform students about some of this year’s most important issues at their debate tonight.
The groups will meet at 7 p.m. in the EMU Ben Linder Room to debate Measure 30, same-sex marriage and immigration.
“It’s a great way to answer some questions about Measure 30 and some of these other issues that will be major topics of debate in the presidential election,” junior Katie McGee said.
McGee, co-Chairwoman of the Oregon Federation of College Democrats, added they hope to inform people about both parties’ platforms.

— Chuck Slothower