A bright light started flashing as a persistent alarm began to fill the EMU Walnut Room. The entire ASUO Senate, as well as a few audience members, began to file outside into the slight drizzle of the cold Wednesday night.
Before the faulty fire alarm went off, the body was discussing whether or not to allocate money to the female a cappella group Divisi. While people shivered in the rain, holding computers and backpacks, Divisi sang “Thank You” by Boyz II Men to lift the spirits of the soggy senators.
When the flashing lights finally turned off and everyone was allowed back inside, the meeting picked up where it had left off. Divisi was asking for money to go to Santa Cruz for the Acquirefest and to find a nice venue for their spring show on June 2.
After a short discussion and a long distraction caused by the alarm, the body decided to allocate money to the group.
Senate then moved on to a discussion of who should be senate vice president. ASUO Sen. Emma Newman and Freshmen Representative Andrew Lubash were chosen last week as candidates. Each one was given time to talk about why they would be the best for the job. Newman began.@@names are accurate.@@

“I not only have this year’s experience but I can also reflect on how Senate was last year,” Newman said. “I’ve already taken care of some of the GTN steps we weren’t always following.”
Lubash was eager to move into a leadership role as a freshman.
“This would be groundbreaking for the ASUO to cultivate this young leadership,” he said. “I intend to be involved with the ASUO for my remaining time at the U of O. I would like to progress this senate body forward.”
After a short question-and-answer session, the two candidates were asked to leave the room so the body could discuss openly. Many people around the room seemed conflicted with the decision.
“This is the hardest vote I’ve had to make this year,” ASUO Sen. Ben Rudin said.@@Name is correct.@@
ASUO Sen. President Harlan Mechling was also divided on what to do.@@Name is correct.@@
“If Andrew is elected I’m looking forward to getting him involved a little bit, because he wants to learn as much as he can,” he said. “However, Sen. Newman is someone I make phone calls to, who I lean on. She keeps me in check, and she is more experienced than me, honestly.”
The body voted Lubash into the position.
Once Lubash earned his new position, ASUO Sen. Kaitlyn Lange announced that she was planning on censuring Vice President Katie Taylor. A censure, according to Lange, is a statement of strong disapproval of an elected official and requires a vote from Senate.@@names are accurate@@
Lange decided to do this based on allegations made against Taylor throughout the year. The Senator asked that Taylor make a formal statement acknowledging these allegations were made.
“I want you to consider what has happened, and that this is the most appropriate way to seek accountability on this body,” Lange said. “I would really like better future behavior.”
Rudin spoke out, saying he agreed with the manner in which Lange decided to approach this and said it might take steps toward resurrecting the image of the ASUO. Sen. Lindsay Damiano disagreed with this statement.@@Name is correct.@@
“I do think personally attacking someone is not the way to resurrect the image of the ASUO,” she said. “That is what this has come down to.”
Taylor took her turn to speak.
“The notion that no consequences have been pursued is completely false,” she said. “There are a lot of things that I’ve done this year that are really good for campus and really good for the ASUO.”
Lange did not intend to discount Taylor’s accomplishments with this action.
“I didn’t want it to come to this, I was asking just for accountability,” Lange said. “You have done things that are very commendable and this in no way takes away anything you have done.”
After a tense roll call vote, the body voted 7-9-0 to not censure Taylor.