Dean of Students Paul Shang@@http://vpsa.uoregon.edu/staff@@ kick-started this week’s ASUO Senate meeting with a message of encouragement despite controversy surrounding the recent ASUO elections.
“I know you are all experiencing pressure right now. Try to be supportive of one another. A lot of people who have been involved in (the election scandal) are your colleagues,” Shang said. “Be cordial to one another and open to one another.”
Another discussion stemming from this week’s events arose in the form of an address from ASUO Constitutional Court Associate Justice Jerrett Glass,@@http://asuo.uoregon.edu/concourt.php@@ who proposed further debate on the terms of nonfulfillment of duties in the Senate constitution.
“Nonfulfillment should be clarified and explained in the Senate constitution,” Glass said. “Discussion is over whether offenses should be judged in black-and-white fashion or ruled with discretion.”
The amendments, which have yet to be drafted, would go into affect fall term of 2012 if approved.
The nomination for the new ASUO Senate president resulted in a singular acceptance by current Interim President Harlan Mechling@@http://senate.uoregon.edu/content/minutes-uo-senate-meeting-january-11-2012@@. Sens. Emma Newman and Katherine Du Pont were proposed to be nominated, but both declined.@@http://tinyurl.com/83wjofl@@
Sen. Nina Nolen@@CQ!@@ became a University Senate representative after accepting her nomination.
Preceding the nominations was an apology by Sen. Lamar Wise in light of his recent actions.
“I apologize for not fulfilling my duties,” Wise said.
ASUO President Ben Eckstein’s presentation for the Jim Williams@@http://flair.wittysparks.com/topic/Buck+Williams@@ resolution was voted into action unanimously. The Resolution recognizes and commends Williams, who will be retiring from 35 years of service and management at The Duck Store in September. It will also induct him as honorary lifetime member of the ASUO.
The Senate also approved the Muslim Student Association’s request for $6,100, which will be allocated towards the MSA’s annual Arabian Nights comedy show on May 4.@@http://special.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/entertainment/24767095-41/event-scottish-festival-comedy-eugene.csp@@
Sen. Molly Bacon @@http://asuo.uoregon.edu/senate.php?a=30@@voted in favor for the motion enthusiastically.
“This is super exciting and I am in full support,” Bacon said.
Another special request came in the form of MEChA@@http://pages.uoregon.edu/mecha/@@ propositioning the Senate for a supplemental amount of $7,500 to support their Raza UNIDA Youth Conference, specifically the breakfast with keynote speaker Cherrie Moraga.@@http://blogs.utexas.edu/ddcecentral/2012/01/26/feb-10-playwright-poet-feminist-cherrie-moraga-to-speak-on-campus/@@
Sen. Vania Loredo reinforced MEChA’s appeal.@@http://asuo.uoregon.edu/senate.php?a=30@@
“I participated in something like this,” Loredo said. “People get to interact over food and this is such an amazing thing they do for the University.”