ASUO President Sam Dotters-Katz, who ran on a platform of involving more “everyday students” in student government, on Friday appointed his longtime adviser and former Senate President Athan Papailiou to the Senate seat recently vacated by Kate Jones.
Jones resigned last week to focus on her graduate studies. Before her resignation, she was one of only two senators who had served on the body before the current Senate session. Dotters-Katz cited the need for an experienced voice as a reason for appointing Papailiou.
The Senate must now confirm Papailiou’s appointment, which Senate President Alex McCafferty said is likely to happen at Wednesday’s Senate meeting.
Papailiou first entered student government in March 2006 when he was appointed to a Senate seat representing science students by then-ASUO President Adam Walsh. Later that year, Papailiou was elected to the seat and went on to serve for two years, the second as Senate President. He was former Senate President Sara Hamilton’s vice presidential running mate in an unsuccessful 2007 bid for ASUO Executive.
Though he currently holds no position in student government, Papailiou says he still works closely with Dotters-Katz. Recently, Dotters-Katz credited Papailiou as the “chief architect” of the amendments he has proposed to the ASUO Constitution.
Dotters-Katz played up his inexperience in the ASUO during his run for office. He and Vice President Johnny Delashaw were “everyday students,” he said, and exempt from the corruption he saw as pervading campus government.
“People who have been inside ASUO for a long time get in some special interest pocket or become part of some political machine and can no longer effectively do their job as student advocate,” Dotters-Katz said before the April 2008 election. “Johnny and I are everyday students, and we’re going to advocate solely for students without a personal or political agenda.”
On Sunday, Dotters-Katz said those comments were meant for former President Emily McLain and her staff, and did not apply to Papailiou.
“That doesn’t apply to every single individual,” Dotters-Katz said. “I was talking more about the administration of last year.”
Papailiou said Dotters-Katz’ characterizations did not apply to him. “I have been fighting special interests since I have been in the Senate,” he said. “I’ve been fighting the machines since day one.”
Jones and Papailiou were elected on the same reform platform, but were often in disagreement after taking office. In last year’s Senate, Jones usually voted with McLain, who defeated Hamilton and Papailiou. Jones described Papailiou as “more fiscally conservative” than she. However, she did not expect his appointment to have a profound effect on the decisions made by the Senate.
“The majority of the committee was already fiscally conservative, so I don’t think it will make much of a difference,” Jones said.
Senate presidents typically abstain from voting or participating in discussion while leading a meeting to preserve the appearance of impartiality, Papailiou included. If confirmed by the Senate, Papailiou would be under no such restriction and he said he is looking forward to it.
“There were issues and policies I cared about, but I couldn’t say anything because I had to lead the meetings,” Papailiou said.
Papailiou said his major goals are to break what he called University Catering’s “monopoly” on student events and to ensure that finance committees run smoothly during this year’s budget process.
[email protected]