The Student Senate Rules Committee decided Thursday to add a clause to Senate rules giving it authority to take stances on issues unrelated to the incidental fee.
The committee voted to allow the Senate to make a resolution “when it is in the direct interest of the overwhelming majority” of the student body. Senator Wally Hicks, who expressed skepticism toward the idea at earlier meetings, proposed the new language.
Hicks expressed his hesitancy to expand the Senate’s authority at previous meetings because, he said, it would change the role of the governing body and possibly damage its credibility.
The Senate decided to change the rules after a proposed resolution earlier this year to “make textbooks more affordable” was rejected by the ASUO Constitution Court- the student government body with authority on all interpretations of the ASUO Constitution. The court said the textbooks resolution was “of a sound nature,” but that “there is no authority granted in the Constitution or the Senate Rules allowing such,” according to a Dec. 2 ruling.
The Senate can only take a position on issues directly related to the incidental fee, issues already being debated or considered by the University Senate or General Council and issues that pertain to student services such as housing, campus design and University budgeting, according to the Green Tape Notebook, student government’s policy and rules manual.
The Senate’s Rules Committee wrote language on Jan. 31 giving the Senate authority to make financial and issue resolutions, but during the full Senate meeting on Feb. 8 senators could not agree on expanding the body’s authority. The full Senate voted to send the rules back to the committee to buy time for senators to come to a decision.
Hicks said he was persuaded on Thursday because the Senate could still debate which stances affect the “overwhelming majority” of the student body. Also, the Constitution Court has the final say, so it will reject any resolution that doesn’t directly affect the student body, he said.
Some rules committee members wondered if the sale of Westmoreland property that the University administration is currently pursuing would fall into “the direct interest of the overwhelming majority.” ASUO
Senate Ombudsman Jared Axelrod said that while it may only directly affect the 400 Westmoreland residents, it could be argued that the loss of non-traditional student housing affects the whole campus environment. The loss of the complex could reduce the pool of student housing for the entire student body, making it harder for students to find housing because 400 more students would be filling residence halls, apartments and houses in the Eugene area, Axelrod said. Also, the loss of the cultural diversity at Westmoreland could affect the overall prestige of the University, Axelrod said.
Hicks said he likes the idea of making resolutions because it is the only route by which the Senate could take a stance. Currently, if the Constitution Court votes against an official resolution, the Senate can still pass a letter or a memorandum of the body’s opinion.
The Rules Committee also discussed adding “joint resolutions” to Senate rules, allowing the Senate to team up with other governing bodies on issues and make a more powerful statement.
Senate Vice President Sara Hamilton said the change would model the Student Senate after state and federal governments by using similar language.
Which governing bodies the Senate can make joint resolutions with has not yet been decided.
Rules Committee members voted 4-0-1 to approve these changes. Theymust still be approved with a two-thirds majority in the Student Senate and then by the Constitution Court.

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