FLiCKS, a student group that offers free movies on campus, received $91,000—including $9,900 for officer salaries—in special fees funding last month, after the ASSU Undergraduate Senate had rejected the group’s fee request based in part on those salaries.
As the 14th ASSU Undergraduate Senate leaves office, many of the body’s accomplishments are some that a majority of students may already take for granted.
At its April 16 meeting, the ASSU Undergraduate Senate debated issues surrounding the policies and structure of the Senate, including the organization of committees, whether senators should be allowed to study abroad and how many Senate seats should be reserved for upperclassmen.
Dan Ashton ’14 and Billy Gallagher ’14 have been elected as the 2013-14 ASSU Executive after two rounds of balloting, beating out Najla Gomez ’14 and Elizabeth Patino ’14.
At their last meeting before the ASSU’s spring elections, the ASSU Undergraduate Senate debated the possibility of altering the body’s bylaws to allow future senators to study abroad during their term.
This week’s ASSU elections will mark not only the selection of the University’s student government representatives but also the opportunity to for students to amend—for only the ninth time in over 40 years—the ASSU Constitution.
According to current and former senators, the current Senate’s lack of progress is merely symptomatic of broader issues — including almost-complete annual turnover, a lack of upperclassmen representation and structural limitations — that have annually hamstrung the Senate’s initiatives and blocked senators’ efforts to significantly improve student life.
During a virtual emergency meeting this weekend, the ASSU Undergraduate Senate approved an amendment to the ASSU Constitution that, if passed by the student body during the spring elections, will allow some Senate seats to be reserved for upperclassmen.