The ASUO Senate voted Tuesday in a special meeting to allocate $600 of this year’s Senate surplus to give summer senators $50 stipends each for the month of June. Senate also elected a chair and vice chair to facilitate discussions during meetings this summer.
The Senate passed the stipend resolution with five affirming, four against and seven senators abstaining from voting altogether.
Sen. Tyler Griffin recognized a conflict of interest in senators voting on their own June payment and recommended that senators participating in the summer session abstain from voting.
“I don’t think we should be voting to approve ourselves pay for the summer,” Griffin said. “I think it’s a bit tricky and we should take this into consideration.”
The seven abstaining on the vote included newly-elected summer Senate Chair and
Katelyn Lange and summer Senate Vice Chair Zachary Stark-MacMillan.
The Senate voted to hold yesterday’s special session during last week’s meeting to decide if they would break precedent and give stipends for ASUO senators serving in the summer.
During the summer, ASUO will function with 11 total senators, including the chair and vice chair.
Sen. Chris Bocchicchio voted no along with three fellow members of the body, citing concerns of the precedence caused by the allocation.
“Here’s the ASUO Senate giving themselves money,” Bocchicchio said.
Sen. Jeremy Blanchard and those in favor of the stipend allocation cited issues of past summer sessions of Senate, where not enough people were able to attend meetings.
Although Lange abstained because of the conflict of interest, she echoed these concerns.
“I think they should not be seen as incentives, just as compensations for all the hard work being done this summer,” Lange said.
The request, which Senate treasurer Max Barkley wrote, gives $75 for the month of June to the summer Senate chair and vice chair and $50 to every other senator. Barkley, who voted in favor of the allocation, recognized the conflict of interest but also the work that may be done this during the summer session with a salary.
“I know there are moral issues, but I think granting this money will be worthwhile,” he said.
Former Senator and current Oregon Commentator contributor Lyzi Diamond attended the special session to voice her opposition to the request based on logistical issues in the stipend structure, as well as conflict of interest. During the meeting, she explained the rules in the Green Tape Notebook, the rulebook for the ASUO.
“The stipend model says you can’t do what you’re doing,” Diamond said.
Just before the vote was taken, Griffin resubmitted his plea to the senate body.
“Abstain if you feel you have any qualms at all,” Griffin said.
Several student groups presented requests for funds before the Senate approved of the June salary, including the Muslim Student Association, Psi Chi and Dance Oregon.
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