ASUW Student Senate Steering
January 7, 2004
DRAFT Minutes
Respectfully submitted by Senate Secretary Alex Kim
Secretary’s Note: Vice-Chair Karl Smith scribed the
majority of these minutes in my absence. I extend my
gratitude.
Call to order at 2:33 pm.
Roll Call
Aiko Akers
Chris Barrows
Nick Dayton
Mae Diligencia
Alex Kim - late
Kelsey Knowles
Steve Kushnir – proxy by Angelina
Jon Lee
Mike Leichner
Joel Murray
Garrett Parks – proxy by Rachel
Rene Singleton – absent
Karl Smith
Zach Tobin
Chair’s Report
Chair Zach Tobin said the legislative directive LD-11-2 needs to be added to the
agenda. He added that we were behind in legislation, and urged members to
write legislation and encourage others to do the same. Zach asked members to
be respectful during meetings and that decorum be followed. He reminded the
Steering committee that it cannot suspend Senate rules, but explained that last
week was a unique situation. He wants to begin meeting with committee chairs
every two weeks.
Officers’ Reports
Vice-Chair Karl Smith gave an update on the attempt to get a representative
from Jostens. He said that the main representative is not available for next week
and other representatives are unqualified to present to Senate. Chris Barrows
said we should get feedback from multiple companies. Aiko Akers said bidding
is secretive and that other companies can come to Senate for support. Jon Lee
says bidding will close within one week. Joel Murray asked if multiple
companies are bidding. Aiko said there was no way to know because it was a
private process.
Membership Coordinator Jon Lee presented the registered student
organizations (RSOs) which failed to get 30 signatures or failed to register as an
RSO. RSOs which failed to register with SAO were HuskIPAC, South Asian
Student Association, and Students for Social Change; RSOs which failed to
acquire 30 signatures were Alpha Kappa Psi, American Indian Science and
Engineering Society, Filipino American Student Association, Muslim Student
Association, Pakistani Student Association, and Young Democrats. Nick
Dayton asked if the group requirements said “registered for a year or more” or
“continuously for a year or more.” Rene Singleton said SAO looked at it from
October to October. Zach quoted the bylaws saying “for one full year.” Jon said
failing to register would eliminate from getting a seat for one full year. Mike
Leichner asked what would happen to Steve as a committee chair. Rachel
Flynn said that if these senators really wanted to be senators, they would have
gotten it done. She expressed concern about letting them jump right back in.
Aiko said people should be in immediately once they get their signatures. She
said that if it’s only a few months and they get their signatures it should be okay.
Joel asked exactly what the rules and bylaws said. Zach read the pertinent
bylaws. Mike said he was fine with giving a grace period, but wasn’t sure this
would fall under that. Nick asked whether those who were no longer senators
should vote in committee today. Zach said yes. Joel said these groups needed
to be represented, so it was important that they had seats in the Senate. Kelsey
Knowles said more than a one-month grace period shouldn’t be given. She said
rules were clear, so a longer grace period is inappropriate. Nick asked if SAO
already gave people a really long grace period. Rene said they wait a week after
registration deadline, and then send out e-mail. Clarified that registration system
was different than Senate seat system. Jon said that one RSO is in limbo with
SAO, so only three don’t have their stuff in. Joel asked if this was the first year
in which RSOs have needed signatures with SAO to obtain a Senate seat. Zach
replied that it was not. Kelsey said we shouldn’t be taking into account which
RSOs are affected, we should only be thinking of whether the RSO has followed
the rule or not. Additionally, we should think about the welfare of the committee
if a chair is involved. Aiko asked if we would be deciding on the one-year block
on re-obtaining a seat for those RSOs that did not fulfill the requirements of the
grace period. She thinks this period is too long. Joel asked if there was any
precedent in such a matter. Aiko said she didn’t think so. He wondered if there
was any forewarning that the RSOs in question would lose their Senate seat if
they did not register with SAO.
Jon said that when an RSO applies for a Senate seat, it is made clear that they
must have been registered with SAO for at least a year. We must decide two
things: first, whether these seats will simply be allowed back in after completing
SAO registration; and second, for the 30 signatures.
Zach pointed out that this is the first year that Senate has so scrutinously looked
at these details.
Joel said we should give them a second chance.
Rachel wondered then when the “grace period” would be over. She pointed out
that there would always be new people in the Senate and some people would
never know the rules entirely.
Mike says he’s fine with the signatures being accepted “whenever.” But, he
believes we should only give a short time for RSOs to register with SAO.
Mae said that last year, she checked online first to see if RSOs were registered
with SAO.
Nick said he is of the opinion that it’s easy to re-register with SAO, but since
these are longer standing groups, we should allow them back in. He suggested
some sort of penalty, but noted that this is not what it says in the rules.
Aiko Akers moved to inform RSOs that have not registered with SAO that they
must do so by the end of January or lose their seat and eligibility until next year.
Seconded.
Mike asked if this still meant that when re-applying, the one-year existence
requirement would be refreshed. It was agreed that it would be.
Alex Kim moved to close debate. Seconded. Passed.
The motion passed.
Jon continued with his report, saying that work on the Senate buddy system was
continuing.
Alex Kim said work on the website functionality was progressing, and that he
needed committee vice-chairs to submit minutes to him,
Legislative Referral
R-11-7 was referred to General Affairs without objection.
Approval of the Agenda
Mike Leichner moved to remove committee meetings. Seconded. Passed.
Zach Tobin entertained a motion to remove committee chair reports.
So moved, seconded. Passed.
Zach also entertained a motion to place LD-11-2 under “New Business”.
So moved, seconded. Passed.
Alex Kim moved to approve the agenda. Seconded. Passed.
Approval of the Minutes
Mike moved to approve the minutes as amended. Seconded. Passed.
Approval of Committee Appointments
Zach noted that new committee appointments were available in back of the
packet.
Chris Barrows moved to approve the committee appointments. Seconded.
Passed.
Jon asked chairs to make sure that membership data was corresponding with
the actual people attending their committees.
Garrett asked if there was a procedure for resigning from Senate. Zach said
he’d prefer something in writing.
Zach adjourned the Steering committee.