The temporary ASUO Senate committee devoted to discuss University restructuring talked about problems with the current system, University President Richard Lariviere’s plan to correct the issue and the committee’s goals for the future during its first meeting Monday.
The University restructuring would change the way the University works with the board of higher education and the Oregon University System, which could potentially impact student tuition.
The University restructuring committee was formed by ASUO senators when they communicated a common desire to examine the issues involved with a new University structure and proposed a resolution that could involve the larger student body.
Lariviere proposed a plan last spring term to change the way the University functions, including changes in transparency, funding and governance.
The committee is composed of four ASUO senators: Brian Powell, Brianna Woodside-Gomez, Jeremy Blanchard and Grace Hochstatter. Others in the ASUO attended to discuss the issues of a new partnership, including President Amelie Rousseau, Vice President Maneesh Arora and newly appointed Chief of Staff Ben Eckstein.
Powell chaired the committee and said the end goal of such a committee is to make a flexible proposal that incorporates student voice.
“It’s much more general … (We) don’t want to take a specific stance,” Powell said. “We want to maintain relevancy and be a good voice for students at the UO.”
Powell said the group developed two primary goals for the term at the Monday meeting. The committee wants to let students know what’s going on and draft a resolution for the student and University senates.
“It’s a complicated issue, (letting) students know what’s going on; we think that’s very important,” Powell said.
Woodside-Gomez added that it’s important for students to know what happens in the legislature because it affects their education.
“I really just want students to have a voice in the issue, because it directly affects the amount we pay for schooling … I want students to be aware of what’s going on,” Woodside-Gomez said.
Woodside-Gomez also said she hopes the resolution they create won’t have a sway either way on the issue, and added that the committee’s role is not to advocate for a position, but for students in general.
“We just want to be advocates for students and let them know (what’s happening),” she said. “If I was not involved with ASUO and Senate, I probably would not know anything about what President Lariviere is doing.”
Although the original intent of the committee’s formation was to work on the resolution and discuss the issues, Powell said the committee will still be working even after a decision is made on a proposal in the Senate.
“Once we draft a resolution, (there will be) a point in the resolution that says this committee will be charged to employ the resolution,” Powell said. “This committee should be around for a while.”
At its next meeting, the committee plans to draft a resolution for Senate and discuss the issues more.
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