ASUCD Senate meetings are scheduled to begin Thursdays at 6:10 p.m. Times listed are according to the clock at the May 7 meeting location, the Memorial Union’s Mee Room.
Meeting was called to order at 6:10 p.m.
Joe Chatham, ASUCD president, arrived at 6:18 p.m., left at 6:52, p.m., returned at 6:54, left at approximately 7:50 p.m., returned at 9:35 p.m., and left at 10:01 p.m.
Chris Dietrich, ASUCD vice president, present
Joemar Clemente, ASUCD senator, present
Danny Garrett, ASUCD senator, present
Justin Gold, ASUCD senator, present
Erin Lebe, ASUCD senator, present
Kevin Massoudi, ASUCD senator, present
Justin Patrizio, ASUCD senator, arrived late at 6:15 p.m.
Laura Pulido, ASUCD senator, present
Shawdee Rouhafza, ASUCD senator, present
Trevor Taylor, ASUCD senator, present
Mo Torres, ASUCD senator, present
Previn Witana, ASUCD senator, present
Jack Zwald, ASUCD president pro-tempore, present
Presentations
Cal Aggie camp unit director Austin Merrill spoke about the camp. Two social workers also spoke, including a representative from Kids First.
Amanpreet Singh spoke about the ASUCD internship and job fair, Tuesday May 12 on the Memorial Union’s East Conference Room starting at 4 p.m.
New student court cases
Rudy Ornelas alleges that Chatham’s appointments for justices of the court were in violation of the bylaws and are not sufficient.
Appointments and Confirmations
William Klein was appointed unit director for the Campus Center for the Environment (CEE) with a 5:4:3 vote, Witana objected.
Consideration of Old Legislation
SB 45 authored and introduced by Lebe, to allocate $1,372 from Senate Reserves for SafeBoats 2009, passed with a 9:3 vote.
SB 45 was called to reconsider, carried with a 5:4:3 vote. After re-discussion, it passed again with a 9:3 vote.
Senate bill #51 authored and introduced by the Internal Affairs Commission, co-authored by Matt Shannon, to clarify the duties of the ASUCD webmaster, passed unanimously.
Public Discussion
Torres brought up what he felt was his lack of getting an opportunity to speak during the discussion of SB 45.
Massoudi said he was wary of the confirmation that was made earlier in regard to his political affiliation.
Discussion continued throughout the senate table regarding qualifications when considering confirmations.
Taylor asked for the senate’s ideas on getting a ride-share program started through ASUCD Creative Media in website form. There is a possibility that TAPS has been talking with an outside company (Zimride), which would pay for making a separate site costing about $9,000.
Garrett asked for input on putting whatever is left in Senate Reserves at the end of the quarter toward the Fall Kickoff event in Fall 2009 instead of it going to Capitol Reserves.
Laura Brown, commission chair of the Gender and Sexuality Commission, announced that the Gender Education program is officially saved. The position is being housed through the Campus Violence Prevention Program instead of the Women’s Center.
Zwald said that he met with Janet Gong and that ASUCD will most likely get a member representative on the University Rate Group.
Patrizio spoke about the possibility of getting the fifth floor of the MU opened for usage, with the possibility of renovation with the aid of ASUCD funds.
Gold spoke about the senate taking stronger stances, taking on more daring projects to make students who voted for them more proud of their representation as members of the senate.
Eli Yani, ASUCD controller, announced the times and places for the Budget Hearings.
Consideration of urgent legislation
A senate resolution authored by Dietrich, co-authored by Chatham, Yani and Zwald, introduced by Zwald, to express concern over the assessment of Campus-Based fees as a budget reduction strategy, as Student Affairs is considering an assessment on campus-based fees as a strategy to mitigate budget cuts, passed by 11:0:1 vote, abstained by Gold.
Public Announcements
Lebe announced the Habit Burger fundraiser for the Safeboats on Tuesday May 12 from 4 to 9:30 p.m.
Gold announced for those that purchased tickets for the Theta Xi E-40 concert to call their credit card companies for possible refunds, as some people we able to already do that.
Meeting adjourned at 11:57 p.m.
ANGELA RUGGIERO compiles the Senate Briefs. She can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.
