The Meeting
At the ASUO Senate’s first meeting of the school year last night, members voted on special requests from student groups, confirmed presidential appointments to committees and discussed last Friday’s West University riot. University President Richard Lariviere also attended to discuss tuition increases in the context of his May white paper.
The Decisions
Climate Justice League presented a $600 request for its 10/10/10 Global Work Party Event. Senate unanimously approved the request, but the presenters said depending on the costs of reservation, they could require up to $50 more.
Senator Max Barkley was hesitant about giving surplus funds to CJL because of how early in the Senate year it is.
“I love surplus and I want to keep it as high as possible,” Barkley said.
Arab Student Union requested $870 for Yalla Newspaper, a line item created in spring term. The money would cover printing Yalla’s first two issues this fall and an outreach event on Oct. 4 to promote the first issue.
The Yalla request was approved with 13 votes in favor, two against and one abstaining from voting. The presenters said they hope to not require surplus funds by 2012.
“We do plan to wean ourselves off the ASUO,” Yalla editor-in-chief Nick Willon said.
The Assault Prevent Shuttle’s presentation for an in-group transfer of funds to cover food handling for a retreat was also unanimously approved.
ASUO President Amelie Rousseau presented her committee appointees for approval: Melissa Cohen for the Programs Finance Committee and Nick Warren for the Departments Finance Committee. Cohen was unanimously approved and Warren was approved with 14 votes in favor and two against.
Several senators were the only nominees for officer positions: Max Barkley for vice chair, Ian Fielding for ombudsman and Brianna Woodside-Gomez for treasurer.
The Conflict
The West University district riot was raised, and Senator Chris Bocchicchio encouraged the senators to have a discussion about the riot for
discussion’s sake.
“I was embarrassed as a student that my peers were damaging property,” Bocchicchio said.
Some senators opposed this, supporting a more financial vision of Senate. But Senator Jeremy Blanchard called on a representative vision.
The Senate approved Blanchard’s proposal for a committee to discuss the riot. It was approved, with four senators voting against.
“It’s important that we represent our constituents … (I support creating) ad hoc committees for things they are passionate about,” Blanchard said.
The Senate, in general, discouraged the actions of the students involved with the events Friday evening.
Lariviere also spoke about stabilizing tuition costs for freshmen, breaking away from OUS governance and generating funds from a bond.
Next Week
Next Wednesday, the Senate will vote on the Senate chair and academic committee chair. Laura Hinman and Zachary Stark-MacMillan are in the running for Senate chair. Bocchicchio and Stark-MacMillan were nominated for academic committee chair.
The committee created to discuss the riot, the West University Engagement Committee, will try to meet this week.
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