ASUO Senate approves $15,000 request to bring ‘Daily Show’ comedian to campus
Senate unanimously approved the Students of the Indian Subcontinent’s $15,000 request to bring Hasan Minhaj, Senior Correspondent from the The Daily Show, to the group’s cultural night. This is the largest approved request of the year.
SIS’s request last week was originally tabled due to lack of fundraising efforts.
After last week’s meeting, SIS sent letters to departments around the university in hopes to fundraise for the event. The group has received commitments from the Department of International Studies, the School of Journalism and Communications and the Center for Multicultural Academic Excellence to help funding beginning spring term.
SIS is currently working on finalizing the contracts for the annual event, which took place at the end of May in 2015.
Senate confirms Elections Board Chairman
Senate confirmed Abraham Youhana as the ASUO election board chair, a position that recruits board members and oversees elections. Youhana is a sophomore double-majoring in Political Science and Business Administration. ASUO Director of Staff Casey Edwards said Youhana has shown “a lot of dedication” toward student organizations.
Youhana proposed extending the duration of ASUO elections and changing the election date to either end of winter term or middle of spring term. He says these changes will increase students’ knowledge of candidates and increase voter turnout.
Davies asked Yohana how he would handle controversy if it came up during elections.
Youhana said the election board will hold a forum to inform the student body and keep administration out of the election. He plans to expand the board to have “a more hands-on approach” to avoid controversy.
“[My goal] is to serve the students on this campus,” Youhana said.
Senate unanimously confirmed Youhana to the position.
ASUO Executive steps up for UO Miracle
UO Miracle, a student-run philanthropic organization, almost left the meeting without being funded for its upcoming Dance Marathon event. Because only ASUO-recognized groups can receive funds from Senate, UO Miracle was not allowed to request funds from surplus.
However, Joaquin Ramos, member of the Multicultural Center, offered to have the MCC sponsor the group. ASUO Finance Director Shawn Stevenson said that it would be easier for ASUO Executive to sponsor the group. Senate passed the event with 20 “yes,” zero “no” and two abstained votes.
UO Miracle is on track to become a ASUO recognized group within the week, Stevenson said.
Dance Marathon is Jan. 23 at 12 p.m. in the EMU Ballroom.
LGBTQA to bring AIDS quilt to UO
The LGBTQA’s $500 request to bring an AIDS quilt for its upcoming Sex Awareness Week was approved by Senate.
The quilt is one of 44,000 that commemorates people who died in the AIDS crisis during the 1980s.
Many senators shared their support for the event.
“This is a great cultural project to have on campus. I’m very proud that we can sponsor such an event,” Davies said.
The exhibit will take place at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art during Sex Awareness Week on Feb. 10.
Senate voted to table the third retreat resolution.
Senate continued to debate the retreat resolution saying the language would limit senate’s ability to approve funding for student groups and the nature of the request will intimidate some.
Senator Quinn Haaga said “it’s disappointing” that senate couldn’t finalize a resolution that has been available since end of Fall term.
Correction: A previous version of this story indicated that the contracts with Hasan Minhaj have been finalized and that the event was set for May 21 at 5 p.m. in Straub Hall. The contract, as well as the date, time and location of the cultural night, have not yet been finalized.