Val R. Christensen Service Center asks ASUSU for speaking rights
Associated Students of Utah State University President Steve Palmer passed the gavel to Executive Vice President Celestial Starr Bybee Tuesday evening as discussion centered around extending speaking rights to the Val R. Christensen Service Center and putting the “A” back on the hill.
“For me to voice my concerns or my opinions I have to pass the gavel,” Palmer said. “Any time there is some sort of an item to our discussion that the president has concerns or opinions on, the president cannot speak unless he passes the gavel. The chair has to remain completely neutral.”
ASUSU suspended speaking rules to allow Jarrett Blonquist, Service Center director, an opportunity to plea his case before the council.
The Service Center had speaking rights on the ASUSU council up until 1999, when the vice president at the time “thought it would be appropriate to break away from executive council and become its own entity,” Blonquist said.
This measure was largely pursued because of financial matters, Science senator David Hoyal said, who spoke with the late vice president of service on the matter.
“[The Service Center] thought if they separated they could get more money. They thought they would have their own money and their own staff,” Hoyal said.
It was after the Service Center separated from ASUSU they “found out they couldn’t get money.” Hoyal said the Service Center had received its money from ASUSU and needed to remain with ASUSU to continue to obtain that money.
Blonquist said he is asking for speaking rights on ASUSU, but would be without voting rights. However, Blonquist admitted that he would eventually “like to see [the vice president of Service Center’s role on ASUSU] back in the position it once was,” which was a voting member of the council.
“Last year the director didn’t have speaking rights. She was very alienated, the Service Center was really alienated. We didn’t have support from ASUSU,” Blonquist said.
Blonquist said he wanted the two groups to work more closely together and asked that “rules be amended and [the vice president] have speaking rights,” so he would “be able to work well with all of you.”
The issue of speaking rights for the Service Center will be addressed more in Tuesday’s meeting.
ASUSU also discussed Palmer’s campaign platform to put the “A” back on the mountain. Sponsored by Palmer, the bill was passed by legislators of ASUSU with a five to one vote.
Co-chairs of the “A” committee, Kevin Nielsen and Amee Nelson presented the bill before council.
“The ‘A’ is a great way to get school spirit,” Nelson said.
Lit with fire by the Sigma Chi fraternity, the old “A” was in effect from 1947 to 1991 and was a fire hazard, Nielsen said.
Nelson said the “A” committee intended to “eliminate the fire hazard” to ensure it is as “safe as possible.”
Nelson said the “A” will “all be done by lighting and electricity.”
The cost of putting a lighted “A” back on the mountain is projected to be around $55,000, Nielsen said.
“This is the high-end cost of what it would be overall,” Palmer said.
Funding will not come from student fees, most of the money “has been committed in years past to us by alumni of Sigma Chi,” Palmer said.
Nielsen said $10,000 was set aside four years ago by ASUSU specifically for the purpose of putting the “A” back on the hill and is currently an available resource.
Nielsen said potential upkeep and maintenance of the lighted “A” would be handled by the Sigma Chi fraternity as they are the group who has carried the tradition of lighting the “A” in years past.
Nielsen said he perceives the “A” will promote an “increase in Aggie pride, boost athletics,” and is a “continuation of our traditions and tangible evidence of progress.”
The “A” committee is seeking to obtain community support before anything is finalized and has set up appointments for the next two weeks to meet with community leaders in various community organizations including the Rotary Club, Lion’s Club, Council of Mayors, City Council and others.
Nielsen said so far all of the community feedback has been positive and supportive.