Restructure of ASUSUEC delays student elections
The Associated Students of Utah State University Executive Council is restructuring and will present a model of its revised constitution during the week of Feb. 7 to 12.
The ASUSU Executive Council hasn’t undergone a major restructure since 1987, said staff adviser Tiffany Evans, but the group feels the new model will “be more effective” and will “better server students.”
A special election to change the constitution will be put to a student body vote in March 2005, after the council has had time to present its revised model. If the restructure is passed by vote, changes will begin immediately.
The restructure was brought about by a self-study and assessed “a listing of concerns and questions that have been raised by some on this council and from those over the past three to four years.” Particular issues assessed included better ways to meet the needs of graduate students, defining and clarifying the roles of government offices and adjusting departmental government stipends.
Evans said, “student leaders brought about the change” and “she commends this group of student officers for undertaking a very tough and time consuming project.”
ASUSUEC is funded by student body fees and provides students with a variety of clubs/organizations and resources. In order to best serve students, the council is structured into three bodies – legislators, senators and programmers.
Legislators represent the entire student body and work closely with USU administrators; senators represent their respective colleges on the council and work closely with their college’s students and staff to fulfill their needs; and, programmers schedule and carry out university events such as Week of Welcome and Homecoming.
The ASUSUEC passes two types of legislation; bills and resolutions. The council has the power to pass bills without any further university approval. Resolutions are passed on to the university president, Board of Trustees or Board of Regents. The council’s main goal is to “fulfill USU students needs and improve the university experience,” said Evans.
Together, the student body vote and legislative bodies provide the council with a series of checks and balances of power that ensure equal representation of USU students.
ASUSUEC meetings are held every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in TSC 336, except during semester breaks, and are open to the public. Council meetings are comprised of legislation debates, a 20-minute public forum and committee reports. Individual legislative bodies have closed meetings throughout the week in order to discuss possible “body-specific” issues to present to the full council.
-emildixon@cc.usu.edu