ASUSU split on proposal
The Executive Council of Associated Students of Utah State University was split Tuesday night when a bill to change the process that bills must go through before reaching the council was presented.
The bill, sponsored by Brandon Helford, Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences senator and Jason Pickup, engineering senator, proposes that bills to be presented to the Executive Council must be submitted the Friday before the weekly Wednesday meeting and also be approved for presentation by the three bodies that make up ASUSU – Legislators, Programmers and Senators. Currently bills must be passed through one of the three bodies before presentation.
There was some question at the meeting over whose responsibility it was to make rules for the council – the ASUSU president or the council through legislation to set the rules.
The council also asked if the House Rules, made by last year’s council are to be followed by this year’s Executive Council.
Last year’s House Rules state that a bill must be turned in by the Thursday before the meeting, but ASUSU President Les Essig said this year’s council does not need to abide by last year’s rules.
“I actually don’t know if we have rules right now,” Essig said.
The sponsors of the bill said they want the council to have more time to be familiar with the bills before they are presented so that questions can be answered beforehand and meetings can be more efficient.
“We feel its necessary, and our responsibility as this council, to be well-organized and well educated on every bill that comes to this council because we represent every student on this council,” Helford said.
Some members of the Executive Council said they are worried the bill would discourage and complicate the writing of bills.
Gabe Carter, diversity vice president, said he feels the deadlines might endanger groups with emergency needs, citing the rugby club last year that needed additional funding suddenly when they progressed in a tournament.
The council was split on whether or not to table the bill and due to the lack of a majority vote, the bill will be presented again next week.
A bill was also proposed by Athletics Vice President Jimi Jorgenson requesting a loan of $5,500 to help purchase 10,000 USU wristbands. Jorgenson said he believes it will be popular among students and promote unity. The wristbands would be sold for $1 a piece and Jorgenson promised that the loan will be repaid by Dec. 5.
“It’s a fad right now. It will really help with school spirit. I have no doubt that it will be successful,” Brett Thomas, Extension vice president said.
The bill will be presented again next week after Jorgenson talks to the Alumni House which is possibly planning to order wristbands as well.
-hilaryi@cc.usu.edu