The Student Senate approved the 2003-2004 Student Government budget, gave 33 members of the incoming executive staff and judicial branch final approval and accomplished several other tasks Wednesday night.
After first reading in the Senate last week, the finance committee cut the budget in several places. It cut a few executive officers’ salaries, the funds for the international task force, the funds for the minority action team and several other expenditures.
The committee also added money to the Senate’s general contingency, which is a fund reserved for the Senate to appropriate to student organizations and use in other ways it sees fit.
The Senate approved the budget without any debate.
The 33 presidential appointed officers up for approval included 29 proposed members of the executive staff, three University Court justices and one trial court justice.
The list of approved officers included several current senators, who will have to give up their seat to a new member appointed by their college council. It also included several former executive staff members and 2000-2001 SG president Robert Wood.
Only one appointment sparked serious debate. The Senate asked Spencer Sissell, the appointed assistant director of Student Involvement and Campus Affairs, several questions about his lack of experience and involvement in SG.
While many senators asked questions about his inexperience and his ability to meet the job requirements, others encouraged their fellow senators to approve Sissell because SG is in need of fresh opinions.
Sissell said he hopes he can bring a new perspective to SG and keep the executive branch abreast of the average student’s needs.
“He is the student we’re trying to reach,” said Sen. Neal Hebert.
After the debate, the Senate approved Sissell’s appointment with only one vote against him.
Each appointment is effective pending approval by the Dean of Students Office.
The Senate also approved an executive order to form a committee to review the SG constitution, bylaws, rules of court and rules of order. Senators also proposed and approved a resolution recommending that the Department of Residential Life return to a seven-day move-in schedule. Res. Life is currently allowing students to return to their residence halls three days before classes begin.
Sen. Hebert and Sen. Garrett Chassee said they are both experienced with Res. Life and would like to see Res. Life move back to the more convenient schedule.
During the Senate’s new business, Sen. Jeremy Griggs proposed a resolution to recommend to the University that the Union Fee increase be postponed until after a complete investigation concerning the campaign activity can be completed.
The Senate referred the resolution to the rules committee, and it will be brought up for debate in the first meeting of the fall semester.