The University of Maine Student Government’s General Student Senate approved a new contract for Assistant to the Vice President for Financial Affairs Susan Poll, granted preliminary club recognition to Bridges to Prosperity and saw four clubs present during its 16th meeting of the 35th session on March 25 inside the Memorial Union’s Bangor Room.
GSS approves Poll’s last contract
The GSS approved what’s expected to be the last contract of Poll, a 26-year employee who plans to leave UMSG Inc. in 2016.
Vice President for Financial Affairs Justin Conant spoke on behalf of the resolution, a two-year contract.
“It’s essentially a copy and paste of her last contract,” Conant said. “She knows every aspect of the financial institution and the UMSG Inc. constitution, so I believe she’s pretty qualified for the job.”
For a position so vital to UMSG Inc. due to high student turnover, the training process is expected to take some time. Poll’s successor will shadow her during the two transition years.
“It would be impossible for me to do my job without [Poll’s] help,” Conant said.
Bridges to Prosperity granted prelim recognition
The GSS granted preliminary club recognition to the UMaine chapter of Bridges to Prosperity, a non-profit that provides isolated communities with access to essential health care, education and economic opportunities by building footbridges over impassable rivers, according to the organization’s website.
Club President Jessica Murphy and Vice President Brad Randall spoke on behalf of the group explaining the various types of work carried out by Bridges to Prosperity.
According to Murphy, the club is required to have at least three civil engineering students on board during trips to help specifically with bridge designing, but all majors are welcome.
Murphy said Bridges to Prosperity’s first couple of years will mostly “be laying down foundation.” Then, they’ll try building at least one bridge per year.
The club has membership dues and the national organization helps student groups find funding through grants.
Buttarazzi report
During his report, University of Maine System board of trustees Representative Colin Buttarazzi touched upon recent news surrounding the UMS’ structural gap, especially concerning the University of Southern Maine’s faculty cuts and ensuing protests.
Buttarazzi said USM has an $11 million budget shortfall compared to UMaine’s $4.8 million.
“It could be a lot worse for us, but we won’t see these types of cuts because of certain things [UMaine] President Ferguson has done,” Buttarazzi said. “He’s taken a $25 million shortfall down to $11 million.”
Buttarazzi said he doesn’t anticipate seeing cuts like USM’s.
“It’s a rough system right now, but don’t be scared about us,” Buttarazzi said. “I don’t foresee anything like what’s happening at USM right now for us.”
In commemoration of his 21st birthday, the chamber sang Buttarazzi “Happy Birthday to You.”
Exec reports
In his report, President Aaron Ortiz said he has continued working with the UMaine Bookstore on the implementation of a book swap program, trying to find “a middle ground.”
Ortiz also said he talked to representatives of the newspaper program that provides daily issues of national and local papers around campus. Because of a three-year contract signed by a previous UMSG Inc. president, Ortiz said there’s not much he can do to alter the program’s current state.
Ortiz announced that Resident Hall Association, formerly Residents on Campus, would be formally cutting ties with UMSG Inc. and moving under the university’s umbrella. However, Ortiz and RHA President Emily Farel said they plan on continuing communication between the two organizations.
In closure, Ortiz said he would be publicly announcing his resignation fairly soon, along with Vice President Ryan Hall due to graduation this spring. According to UMSG Inc.’s constitution, Conant is next in line to become president if the two executives leave.
Ortiz said he would be assigning a task force “to make sure students’ voice are heard” during the process of electing new replacement executives.
“We’re confident this will work out well for UMSG Inc.,” Ortiz said.
During his report, Hall appointed Sen. Corey Morton to spearhead the task force Ortiz announced to help Conant to select qualified executive candidates.
During his report, Conant announced allocations under $1,000: $942 to Women’s Rugby; $720 to Maine Society for Microbiology; $600 to the UMaine Equestrian Team; $450 to the Health Professions Club; $180 to Student Women’s Association; and $100 to The Wildlife Society.
AB, REACH, Women’s, Men’s Ultimate Frisbee present
Four groups presented to the GSS on recent trips partially funded by UMSG Inc. during the March 25 meeting.
Alternative Breaks co-coordinators Morgan Kinney and Kelly Covey used a slideshow to show the eight different service trips they achieved over the past month.
REACH presented on its volunteer trip to India where group members spent most of their time helping build toilets.
Women’s Ultimate Frisbee presented on its trip to Disc-iple Sports’ annual High Tide Tournament in Brunswick, Ga. According to the representative, it was the first time the club was able to play outside all year. Ultimate Frisbee’s next competition will be in Rhode Island.
Just like the women’s team, Men’s Ultimate Frisbee thanked the GSS for partially funding its trip to the High Tide Tournament. Club President Pat McGrath and Vice President Pat Saucier spoke on behalf of the group, saying the team lost in the quarterfinals.
“We’ve grown tremendously since last year,” McGrath said.