Responsibility is crucial. Our student government has a huge responsibility in allocating over $13 million of student money. The five ballot measures you’ll find on DuckWeb this week while registering for classes are designed to match the ability of ASUO to respond to the current challenges faced in serving you. We highly encourage you to vote “yes” on all of these measures for the following reasons:
1. Our ASUO President and Vice President work diligently, usually 60-80 hours a week, on behalf of all of us. However, an exhausted Executive makes for a less responsive executive. Under this measure, the Executive could have two Vice Presidents if he or she so chooses, similar to the University of California schools, to increase the Executive’s ability to meet its responsibilities on everyone’s behalf.
2. We now have over 180 student groups, and they provide great leadership opportunities, experiences, and entertainment for the campus at large. However, the finance committee that oversees the programs, the Programs Finance Committee, has not increased in membership relative to the growth in number of groups it serves. This means each committee member meets with 20-30 groups, and is stretched thin in his or her ability to serve each group. By adding two more members to the Committee, each Committee member will become more responsive as he or she is responsible for fewer groups. This year, except for one member, the entire committee was new. Under the ballot measure, 1/3 (or 3 members) of the Committee would be returning each year. This way, the committee will be more experienced and better prepared to meet their responsibilities.
3. Apart from student groups, the ASUO deals with contracts for bus passes and football tickets, and departments like Conflict Resolution Services and Theater (free theater tickets). These negotiations are a huge responsibility, and too often the ASUO has no returning members or only one returner in a year. Under the proposed ballot measure, more members of these Committees should be returning each year, enabling our representatives to have more experience and institutional memory negotiating for the student body.
4. Earlier this term, the Constitution Court ordered President Hinman to vacate her office for a minor technical rule, in a move required under the Constitution but acknowledged by the Court as too harsh. Although this was proposed before President Hinman was ever grievanced, this serves as a prime example of the need for a change. The proposed measure enables the Constitution Court to responsibly deal with cases of non-fulfillment based on the person’s good faith, damage done, and remedial measures taken. Finally, it allows the Constitution Court to order sanctions other than vacancy or removal, ensuring smoother operations and punishments that meet the violation.
5. ASUO Senators are required to do all their office hours in the ASUO office between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. The problem is many students need to see someone after 5 p.m. and/or need to meet someone outside of the office. This measure will allow Senators to do one of their office hours anywhere on campus, between 8:30 a.m. and 9 p.m. This will enable Senators to be closer to their constituents and provide help after hours.
While you’re on DuckWeb registering for classes this week, please click the link at the top of the Student Menu and vote “yes” to all ballot measures. Thank you so much for your time and good luck with the rest of your term.
— ASUO Senate President Matthew Miyamoto, ASUO Senate Ombudsperson Ben Rudin, ASUO Senate Treasurer Taylor Allison, ASUO Senator A.J. Gorton, ASUO Senator Ian Needham, ASUO Senator Miles Sisk, ASUO Senator Kaitlyn Chock, ASUO Senator Megan Jones, ASUO Senator Alex Sacco, ASUO Senator Bryan Vanderpool, ASUO Senator Connor Dwyer, ASUO Senator Parker Williams, ASUO Freshman Representative Marita Maffit