SENATE CALENDAR

Wednesday, March 18th, 2008

7:30 PM

T. Greg Doucette, Student Senate President, Presiding

 BOARDROOM OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER

Opening Roll Call

Student Senate, Tuesday, March 18th 2008, 7:49 PM
 
There were thirty-nine (39) Senators (Adonis, Alston, P. Barnes, Beam, Chiang,
Cioffi, A. Davis, Jimmy Davis, Joseph Davis, Dawkins, Demanovich, Donnelly, Douglas,
Dunstan, Gannon, Gomez, Howard, Jajoo, Lindh, Lindsay, McCullough, Miller, Murphy,
Parnell, Perry, Phelps, Poteat, M. Potter, Price, Pye, Robinson, Rogers, Roscoe,
Rose, Schweitzer, Simon, K. Vaughn, Webb, Womack) present. There was also one (1)
non-voting member (Doucette) present.
 
There were twenty-two (22) Senators (Briggs, Burrell, Carter, Chen, Cooper, Elkins,
Ellis, Friel, Hook, Joyner, Lal, Lampe, Lassiter, K. Mills, Monk, Musick, Pridgen,
K. Smith, Stewart, Storm, Trickel, Udyavar) absent. There were also two (2)
non-voting members (Dimond, J. Smith) absent.
 
The following official was also present: Aichele, Foxx, Hankins, Mazur, Pegg,
Tucker, and Whiteside.
 
 
 

A quorum was present.

Comments & Announcements

Senator Emeritus Hankins: Many senators here attended the Eve Carson Memorial this afternoon. It was really good. I just wanted to remind you to remember that in the grand scheme of things this campaign season is not as big of an issue.

First Reading of Legislation

SR 106-Elections Commission Authorization Act*

Motions to Fast-Track Legislation

SR 106-Elections Commission Authorization Act*

*pending emergency fast track motion (requires 2/3 of entire Senate)

Motion to fast track by Senator Cioffi

ROLL CALL VOTE (to fast track):

There were forty (40) Senators (Alston, Beam, Briggs, Chiang, Cioffi, A. Davis,
Joseph Davis, Demanovich, Donnelly, Douglas, Ellis, Gannon, Hook, Howard, Jajoo,
Joyner, Lal, Lampe, Lindh, Lindsay, McCullough, Miller, Murphy, Parnell, Perry,
Phelps, Poteat, M. Potter, Pridgen, Pye, Robinson, Rogers, Roscoe, Rose, Schweitzer,
Simon, Trickel, K. Vaughn, Webb, Womack) voting in the affirmative. 
 
There were eleven (11) Senators (P. Barnes, Carter, Chen, Jimmy Davis, Dawkins,
Dunstan, Friel, Gomez, Lassiter, K. Mills, Price) voting in the negative. 
 
There was one (1) Senator (Adonis) present but not voting. 
 
There were nine (9) Senators (Burrell, Cooper, Elkins, Monk, Musick, K. Smith,
Stewart, Storm, Udyavar) absent. 
 
A quorum was present.

Motion for emergency fast track passes 40-11 with one abstaining.

Second Reading of Legislation

SR 106-Elections Commission Authorization Act

Sponsors Report: Senator Demanovich: Spoke on the bill about the purpose behind it. Also, we are attempting to pass this resolution so that Bobby Mills does not gain an unfair advantage over the other candidates. The students deserve to have a choice.

Debate on Bill:

Positive Debate: Proxy Yasin: Basically, We have the job tonight to be able to say whether or not they have the right to change names. I think this should be allowed because Mike no longer wants to be on the ballot. Amber is willing to take his spot. It is simply a swap, there are no current rules saying whether it is clearly wrong or right. This is not about Bobby Mills, but I have never wanted to protect him. I am simply trying to protect student’s rights.

Negative Debate: Proxy Hankins: I just have a concern that if circumstances were different we might not be in this situation. I think that this swap would be wrong. Bobby Mills chose Alston to run with. Alston decided to drop out. This decision does not have anything to do with us or the elections commissions. It is concerning to me that a personal issue between Alston and Mills is coming to the Senate and to students as well. Students should have a choice, but if a candidate decides not to run then that is on them.

Positive Debate: Senator Donnelly: Alston has decided not to run; he has to remain on the ballot. He will not assume the position if election so therefore it is not fair that he remains on the ballot. If he were simply removed and only one person was left on the ballot then that is not fair because the students do not have a choice. By passing this bill, you are not being disrespectful to Greg or anything. You are simply giving the students a choice.

Negative Debate: Senator Barnes: I have been thinking about this all week. I am just worried about the precedence this is going to set for the future. Are we going to have a special meeting every time a candidate wants to decide not to run? I do not want people to refer to this meeting in the future to justify their mistakes.

Positive Debate: Proxy Yasin: The fact is when it comes to this election and this situation. Mills is okay with the swap. The swap is not only about the candidates, it is about the money that was overused by Mills/Alston campaign. If we are worried about this being a problem in a future then you need to address it later not now. It has not been addressed currently with the statutes clearly.

Negative Debate: Senator Dunstan: When Alston and Mills decided to run on a joint campaign, that was their choice. Also, he knew that what he was doing when he decided to withdraw. We are supposed to be doing what is right for the students. If she would have really wanted the position she would have filed in the beginning.

Positive Debate: Senator Joyner: This is not about me. This is about the fact that there will be four of the five student body officers running unopposed. Students already see Student Government as an elitist club and this makes it even worse.

Negative Debate: Proxy Foxx: People have been referencing the situation last year with the ballot, but that was a different issue with the PRR. I really do think that this swap will give an unfair advantage to Mills. The other Student Body Presidents will have to deal with a new running mate being added to the Mills campaign. My opinion is that we need to follow the current structure we have with all the positions. As far as the financial issues go, that is up to the elections commission.

Positive Debate: Senator Cioffi: Again, we have many candidates running unopposed. I think that the biggest issue that people do not understand here is that we are arguing that Mills will have an unfair advantage against the other candidates.

Negative Debate: Proxy Hankins: It is not an unfair advantage to the candidates. They came into the race expecting this problem that Mills having more money. They knew that he would have more money from day one.

Positive Debate: Senator Donnelly: We are not trying to throw Joyner on the ballot for any other reason besides that Alston does not want the position. Yield time to Cioffi.

Senator Cioffi: Right now this is the way the election is and we need to vote to continue to give Mills a running mate as done previously.

Negative Debate: Senator Poteat: I have three big issues with this bill. I think it will disadvantage the write-ins. I think it is also unfair to Joyner herself to try to run with Mills because it will limit her expenses.

Positive Debate: Senator Alston: I cannot withdrawal my candidacy without doing a swap in order to not make Mills campaign unfair to the other candidates. It you vote for the bill everything will remain consistent.

Consent to end debate-objected to

Negative Debate: Senator Rogers: I really do not know where I stand with this bill. The issue that I do have is that if there were three people running in this race would we still be having this bill. If you are simply voting for this bill because it is making the position not uncontested then that is wrong. However, if you are simply do it because you want to keep the consistency of the joint campaign then that is a feasible point.

Positive Debate: Senator Demanovich: All other write-in candidates had the same opportunity to be a running mate for Mills instead of Joyner. However, she is willing to step up and take on these disadvantages.

Call to Previous Question-FAILS

Negative Debate: Senator Chen: Joyner claimed that Student Government is seen as an elitist organization. I think that by passing this bill that further confirms that to the students.

Amendment on Bill by Senator Donnelly inserted at end on line 22 to say that Joyner will assume all of Alston’s debt and notifications. Does not change any part of the bill just add that on end

Consent on Amendment-passes

Previous Question called-passes

ROLL CALL VOTE:

There were thirty (30) Senators (Alston, Beam, Briggs, Carter, Cioffi, A. Davis,
Demanovich, Donnelly, Douglas, Ellis, Gannon, Hook, Jajoo, Lindsay, McCullough,
Miller, Murphy, Parnell, Perry, M. Potter, Pridgen, Pye, Rogers, Roscoe, Rose,
Schweitzer, Simon, Trickel, K. Vaughn, Womack) voting in the affirmative. 
 
There were twenty (20) Senators (Adonis, P. Barnes, Chen, Chiang, Jimmy Davis,
Joseph Davis, Dawkins, Dunstan, Friel, Gomez, Howard, Lampe, Lassiter, Lindh, K.
Mills, Phelps, Poteat, Price, Robinson, Webb) voting in the negative. 
 
There was one (1) Senator (Joyner) present but not voting. 
 
There were ten (10) Senators (Burrell, Cooper, Elkins, Lal, Monk, Musick, K. Smith,
Stewart, Storm, Udyavar) absent. 
 
A quorum was present.
 
The motion to adopt SR 106, Elections Commission Authorization Act, requiring
majority approval for adoption, was adopted by a margin of 30-20.

Bill passes.

Miscellaneous Business

Comments & Announcements

Senator Emeritus Hankins: You have now allowed Student Body officers to hand pick someone to run in place of another candidate’s place. Also, Alpha Phi Alpha will be having a program coming up about white people please come out.

Senator Rogers: Government Operations Committee coming up tomorrow night please come out if you have more than eight absences.

Senator Lassiter: I think we have definitely set a terrible example tonight will this resolution.

Senator Demanovich: I am really glad everyone came out tonight. Please sign up for Relay for Life.

Andrew Tucker: Elections Commission will be discussing this tonight please come express your opinions.

Senator Donnelly: Please support the Zeta Tau Alpha spaghetti dinner.

Senator Barnes: We have a finance committee meeting after the meeting and another meeting on Thursday please come out if you are on the committee.

Senator Webb: I am one of the technical administrators for elections this year. We had a few problems we are going to work out with this. Please participate in the next test survey.

Closing Roll Call and Adjournment

Student Senate, Tuesday, March 18th 2008, 9:11PM
 
There were forty-three (43) Senators (Adonis, Alston, P. Barnes, Beam, Briggs, Chen,
Chiang, Cioffi, A. Davis, Jimmy Davis, Joseph Davis, Dawkins, Demanovich, Donnelly,
Douglas, Dunstan, Gannon, Howard, Jajoo, Joyner, Lampe, Lassiter, Lindh, Lindsay,
McCullough, Miller, Murphy, Parnell, Perry, Phelps, Poteat, M. Potter, Price, Pye,
Robinson, Rogers, Roscoe, Rose, Schweitzer, Simon, K. Vaughn, Webb, Womack) present.
There was also one (1) non-voting member (Doucette) present.
 
There were eightteen (18) Senators (Burrell, Carter, Cooper, Elkins, Ellis, Friel,
Gomez, Hook, Lal, K. Mills, Monk, Musick, Pridgen, K. Smith, Stewart, Storm,
Trickel, Udyavar) absent. There were also two (2) non-voting members (Dimond, J.
Smith) absent.
 
The following officials were also present: Compton, Foxx, Hankins, Mazur, Pegg,
Tucker, and Whiteside.
 
A quorum was present.