ASUO Update
Whoa, it’s Tuesday already, and I realized I hadn’t made my ASUO update.
Good call on the move for a paperless Senate. Working with programs, I know how crappy it can be to have to make 21 copies of every thing firsthand.
From my understanding, ADFC is being renamed the ACFC (Athletics and Contracts Finance Commitee) and will handle contracts, which are currently done by PFC (?). I’m not clear on the implications of it, but the decision to go forward with it seems pretty set, so it’s not like my opinion matters anyways.
Sen. Jones challenged MSA on womens’ issues in Islam when they made a special request for an event. While her concerns about women and Islam are valid, she took personal opinions and placed them in front of the fact that what may not seem right to us as Americans are norms for another culture. Exploring one’s personal concerns over another culture or religion is important, but not as a Senator.
The Akha guy came in again to speak on behalf of the indigenous Akha people that are being persecuted in Thailand and Burma. His efforts are valiant in what they are trying to accomplish, but I don’t know what he hopes for the ASUO Senate to do.
Making my own request from the VFSA, I was surprised that none of the Senators questioned me. I appreciated how fast the process was approved, but I definitely expected more of a discussion on spending $530 for a banner.
After watching and making Special Requests in front of Senate, I was given the impression that wrangling money from them is easy. Well, it is, but not as universally as I imagined. When APS came in front of Senate to request money because of some budgeting mistake last year, Sen. Brown and Trippe rightly questioned the usage of Special Requests to circumvent the general budgeting process. Regardless of the importance of the program and the situation that they are in, surplus funds are not meant to fulfill what PFC should do. Two of the four Special Requests by APS were tabled indefinitely, as per the unofficial advice from Sen. Gulley (vehemently waving his hands for the APS rep. to not retract her request).
A few changes to Senate rules: Senate President is now allowed to put last-minute special requests on agendas. He/she will also be allowed to make vacant committee appointments after week 3.
After Special Requests, Sen. Brown announced his resignation, due to a job he got in Belgium. My guess is that his position, PFC Seat #2, will be filled by an Exec. appointment.
