The Half Way Point

The Fall 2010 semester is in its final week here at UWM, and with that comes the halfway point for the Romero-Boeck administration, of which I am a member. If I were to issue us a final grade for the semester, I think I'd give a solid B+. We've been working hard for months battling administration over issues like parking, and that effort has taken its toll on our ability to focus energy on things like Senate recruitment, and increased visibility.

Next semester we're going start implementing some programs to raise awareness of the Student Association as a place for suggestions, as well as a problem solving unit. I'll need to devote a large amount of time to laying out plans for these programs. I look forward to it, and hopefully we'll see a semester that can be used for more student activities, etc, instead of having to grapple with administration. Things would be a whole lot easier for both the SA official, and the campus administrator if we were to not be blatantly lied to every time administration sees fit. Turns out renewing the Lake Front parking lot was never formally off the agenda, so during the senate meeting Dec. 5th we tabled the U-Park budget. A few days later some mass email goes out explaining how County Parks Director Sue Black turned down the SA's offer to continue the lease. That pretty much finalized it, CSM will replace the Lakefront, at $4 per student per day. We fought, but in the end administration found a way to force its will on the student body once again.

My editorial on the lack of music practice rooms goes out this week, and I hope people still read the Post during exam week. Hopefully the piece will do a bit more to raise visibility for this problem. I plan to work with Peck's black and gold committee during next semester, and we can find a solution together.

I love writing, but lately keeping up this blog has felt more like a chore than a hobby. The problem is that so much goes on, and it takes so long to properly explain, that sometimes the task itself seems too daunting, and I dread even beginning. I'm caught as to whether this is mainly an opinions blog, or if I should take up the task of properly explaining events, since no one else really does that. I could assume that the only people who read this are StuGov nerds anyway, but you know what they say about assumptions..

Also, I look back to some of my older posts, and I realize how much more "opinionated" I was. It's not that I don't feel the same way now, but it's hard to write like that while also trying to be a news source for SA. I have to remind myself that this blog isn't here to educate the masses on SA procedure. Over the holiday I shall we very busy, working on future projects, and hopefully reading, writing, and having a bit of fun. Next semester will be really big over here, I can promise that, so stay aboard comrades.

-Red Menace, out

"Bury my Heart at SFC"

I’m back. I took the longest break from blogging in quite a while. It’s been about three weeks since the last update, and much as happened since. I’ve been meaning to write something earlier, and I got about half-way through a post before getting sidetracked. Since my feelings back then aren’t the same as now, I decided not to even bother finishing that one. I have a process when I write, and everything has to turn out just right. Because of that, I sometimes don’t update at all because I can’t find the proper time to complete the task. Nevertheless, on this cold and billowy last night of November, I shall update at last.

Part of my previous hesitation in updating had to do with the just completed Senate Finance Committee process. I went through a whirlwind of emotions during the last few weeks, and thought it wasn’t proper to speak on things until it was sorted out. I don’t know just how many of my readers (if there are any) are up to date on the very hard to find budget numbers for segregated fee funded enterprises. Basically, a portion of the money students pay for tuition is designated as “segregated fee money” and is appropriated by the Student Association to pay for costs deemed under “Student Life and Interest.” Thus far, there are several centers and programs that are funded with seg fees, including the entire UWM Athletics Program, the Student Association (including my salary) the UWM Children’s Center, the LGBT and Women’s Resource Centers, the B.O.S.S program, the University Legal Clinic, the Student Activities Office, the U-Park program, and a few others. In total, students paid/will pay $216 each semester during the 2010-2011 school year towards these areas. The Senate appoints members to a committee which decides the total funding of these areas, which is then passed by the Senate, and signed into law by the President. The proposed seg fee changes then take place next year.

After about eleven hours of committee meetings, and much debate from the entire committee, SFC reached an accord, and will present its decision to the Senate for approval on Sunday. The major things that I successfully fought for were a cut to Athletic’s “black hole” budget (currently $79.75 per student per semester) and full funding for the Office of Student Life Plan, which rearranged the Student Activities Office, combined the centers under one funding block, and created the “Inclusive Excellence Center” which will replace LINKS, and focus on minority representation and retention around campus.

SFC voted to allocate $77.25 for Athletics, $34.90 for OSL, and $15 for SAC. The Children’s Center and Legal Clinic saw no change. $6.70 was allocated to the “Campus Activities Board” which will work to bring in big speakers, and events on campus.

The biggest thing I fought for, and lost, was the amount allocated to the U-Park Program. For those of you who don’t know, Milwaukee County is removing UWM’s park and ride program at the lake. Those students who used to park there will be forced to either take the bus, compete for 600-700 spaces at the Capitol and Humboldt Park and Ride, or park in UWM’s new on-campus lot at the Columbia St. Mary’s area. Although students will still pay $12 per semester to UWM’s U-Park program, those parking at the CSM lot will be forced to pay $4 a day.

I tried, I fought and I lost. For weeks the Student Association had been urging U-Park to consider making the CSM lot free to use for students, and augmenting the loss in revenue and the cost of upkeep by increasing the seg fee by a few dollars. U-Park denied our pleas. They claimed “free” student parking on campus would inundate nearby neighborhoods with student parkers unable to find a spot in the lot, and that the loss in revenue from a decrease in parking tickets would cause other services offered by U-Park to decline. One member of the P.E.C committee charged with passing U-Park’s budget claimed he “could just not support free student parking.” So as per usual when the University makes a costly mistake buying property they cannot afford, the students foot the bill. I suspect that after failing to generate their expected income, U-Park will come to SFC next year asking for an increase in seg fees to support the lot. In the mean time, student parkers will have to begin paying $4 a day to park on campus, beginning this fall. Budget concerns or not, this move goes against the student interest, and U-Park should admit its failure. Instead they act as if students should thank them for this lot. I can only hope next year’s committee can find a way to sort out the problem, and remind U-Park who pays its wages.

This is starting to drag on a bit, so I’ll sign off for now. I’ll update soon with an upcoming SLIC event, as well as the goings on of the next Senate meeting.

Senate Finance, Food Permits, and SAO Drama

Last night’s meeting kicked off the Senate Finance Committee, and after only about an hour, I was left wanting for more. There’s something magical about SA after dark. Maybe it’s the empty union, or the intensity of seeing your peers on campus when you should be home relaxing, but something about nightly meetings really spices things up.

Although I’ve been waiting to begin the SFC process for months, things could have went horribly wrong tonight, as I was stuck at KFC (no that’s not another abbreviation for a committee, it actually is Kentucky Fried Chicken) for about 45 minutes. I thought my roommates and I would have ample time to pick up a doubledown sandwich or two before I had to be on campus, but thanks to a large order, and the slowest service imaginable, I came dangerously close to missing the meeting, and being ejected straight off the committee for good! Thankfully, I made it there just in time, and next time, I’ll make sure to allow more than an hour if I want to get takeaway before a big meeting.

Probably the most interesting point during the meeting was the ineligibility of every resource center, due to the plan to include these together in the Student Life Organizations block. Even though we ruled the Women’s Center, the LGBT Center, etc, ineligible for funding, only because we are going to fund them under a different module, it felt odd equating these important resources with ineligibility. I capped off a day filled with Student Activities Office tension, by being the second to a motion finding the Student Activities Office ineligible for funding, due to it being a duplicate service to the “Office of Student Life,” the new center to be put in place by SFC funding.

As for the tension before last night, yesterday morning I authored a new plan to reorganize food sale permits under the Union Reservation and Event Planning Services Office, instead of the Student Activities Office. This plan also includes an end to the previous “six food permits per zone per semester” policy, and replaces it with an unlimited number of food permits that can be issued, outside of six on campus buildings, instead of the previous zone system. The plan also increases the maximum number of food permits per Student Organization to five per semester, which I’m confident RSO’s will appreciate. Obviously, SAO did not seem pleased. I am awaiting an email from Eric Jessup-Anger and the SAO office, on when a meeting will take place to talk about the proposed changes. The plan already received the support of the Dining Services Committee, and I’m confident it will pass in the Senate. Regardless of SAO’s reservations, these changes will pass, and the students will have victory.

I received some good news yesterday, I am to be the subject of the UWM Post’s second “Know Your Government” senator profile, to be printed in next week’s issue. I’m excited to field some questions from the Post’s SA reporter, and I’m humbled by the honor of being featured in our campus newspaper.

The next SFC meeting is next weekend, and the committee will hear direct presentations from those institutions seeking segregated fee funds, including Athletics, which I’m looking forward to hearing from. I plan on working on legislation to be discussed at the next senate meeting also, including a proposed limit on the number of presentations per senate meeting, and a new procedure for filing complaints to the Union Policy Board.

-Red Menace out.

Late Report on the Eau Clair Trip

Better late than never, and know that I have the time, I suppose I'll fill everyone in on the UC trip to Eau Clair, as well as the non-eventful senate meeting.

The Trip to Eau Clair lasted from Friday to Sunday, and after experiencing the city, I can safely say I never want to set foot in Eau Clair for the rest of my life. Friday night was spent wandering around what passes for "downtown" and although Senators Johnson, Banks, and I had some fun, the overarching theme here is how terribly boring that city is.

As far as actual events at the UC trip, the most interesting was the REPS/UC merger. The presidents and vice presidents of all the UW schools, which make up REPS, decided to join with UC, making one united front. REPS will act as sort of an oversight on UC's actions, as well as set the budget UC operates off of. This change makes the current UC board of directors quick almost irrelevant, as they will cease to exist once the merger goes through. Now that Milwaukee is part of UC, the general consensus it that while there is a board of directors, we deserve representation on it. With that idea in mind, I ran for a seat during a meeting in which UC board vice-chair Dan Posca resigned, due to pressure from the organization about his racist/sexist comments, and general conduct.

The election would have went well, as the only schools in the meeting were Madison and Milwaukee, although since we're not technically current members of UC, we were allowed to put candidates forward, but not to vote for them. Safe to say, I lost that election. Nonetheless, I put up a good fight, and Milwaukee will have a seat on the board by January for sure.

The conference gave me the ability to get to know Max Love, the secretary of UC's board, as well as Sana Khan, also a board member. It was nice to see other progressive and passionate student representatives.

Once I get my hands on the legislation REPS passed, I'll fill the blog in on the new voting policies, and other substantial changes. Senate meetings have been pretty quiet, but with SFC coming up, it won't be long before the tidal wave hits the shore.

-Red Menace out.

Student Victories Press Release

The following is an official SA press release, which I'm posting here to assist my readers.


University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee sees many Student Victories

MIWAUKEE, WI; October 18th, 2010: The students of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee have won many recent victories over mismanagement, poor planning, and policies deemed unfriendly to students. The Student Association is proud to proclaim its new initiatives, dedicated to advancing student empowerment, and opening the door to further progress and development for every student.
On September 26th, the Student Association Senate unanimously passed legislation advocating changes in library policy. The “Equal Borrowing Privileges Act,” called for the immediate equalization of circulation privileges amongst UWM students, specifically calling for undergraduates to be allowed to loan periodicals, magazines, and journals. In response to the legislation, the University’s Library Policy Committee will meet next month, and several members of the committee are expecting it to pass without complications. If it does, it can be implemented as soon as next semester.
After an initial delay, the Student Association Senate, during a meeting on October 10th, passed the “Campus Life Commitment Act,” which grants an extension to the Student Activity Office’s controversial new student org renewal process. With knowledge that student organizations are the lifeblood of our campus, the Student Association will continue to seek ways to best address and alleviate the concerns of the student body. The Senate also passed a resolution supporting advocacy for more state funding to the University, and the UW system.
During its Vote Work initiative, which ended last Wednesday, the Student Association, along with members of the United Council of UW Students registered a total of 909 new voters on campus. “I’m pleased at the number of voters we registered. We generated lots of knowledge about the election, as well as the issues that are important to us as students.” said Angela Lang, Vice President of the Student Association. “We look forward to November, and expect to see many students going to the polls confident and informed about their decision.”
After almost six months, and much confusion, a total of $1300 will be heading to the Haiti Relief fund within days. The Senate Oversight and Rules Committee will deliver a report during the next Senate meeting, outlying a new procedure for collecting donations, and handling money. With careful planning, the Student Association will ensure similar confusion does not occur again.
Within weeks, the Senate Finance Committee will begin meeting to assess funding procedures for next year. The committee is dedicated to ensuring that every student funded enterprise is both financially responsible, as well as financially viable.
On Tuesday, October 19th, Student Association President Travis Romero-Boeck will be holding a “fireside chat” in the Union Fireside Lounge at 4:00 pm. This will be an open forum for students to ask questions and give input on campus issues, including the beginning of the Search and Screen Committee to pick a new Chancellor, of which Romero-Boeck is a member.
The UWM Student Association is the student’s voice that seeks out new and innovative ways to prompt positive change on campus and in the community. The Student Association creates a trustworthy and transparent relationship with all of the student body. For more information on the Student Association please visit www.sa.uwm.edu or contact Alex Kostal at 414.229.4366.
###

United Council Decision, Press Release Drama

With 699 votes, and 68% of the total, UWM students decided to once again become part of the United Council of UW Students. In a surprisingly quick transformation of opinion from last year, the referendum was held without any sign of a “Vote NO” campaign. Be it an organizational restructuring improvement, or the free legal aide UC offers to its member campuses, most everyone involved in student politics voiced enthusiasm for once again becoming a member.

I’m satisfied with the result, and seeing how the fee charged to each student for UC membership is so small, and refundable at that, I’m not really surprised the outcome happened the way it did. I look forward to a warm partnership in the future, a partnership I’ll experience this weekend when damn near the entire Student Association heads up to Eau Clair to attend a UC convention.

Keeping the positive train rolling, I have issued a press release, detailing the recent student victories of the last month or so. I will post it here, so that readers may take note. As Public Relations Director, I’m gearing up to start polling students weekly on the state of the Student Association, as well as the campus, and the community. I’m looking forward to getting some feedback to what we as student representatives can do better. As Mao Zedong said, “we must always strive to serve the people,” and I plan on serving the students of UW-Milwaukee for a long, long time.

Whilst spreading my press releases today, I noticed that someone had plastered several double sided sheets of paper over them on the third floor org wing of the Union. A stunt like this brings Senator Campbell to mind, since she has been the only legitimate voice of outcry on the press releases going public. Why a member of the Student Association (of which every student is a member) would object to the posting of a SA press release on student victories on common space baffles me. Along with that, it is also a violation of the new UPB bylaws on posting privileges. Nonetheless, I will continue to post my release, without regard to the laws of man or beast. (which I’m actually not violating in any way.)

I’ll most likely update later on this week or Monday, on the happenings at the UC conference, and of course the Senate meeting this Sunday.

-Red Menace, out

Finding time to blog amidst Midterms

Sitting down in my favorite blogging chair, I’m glad to give myself a bit of a break from the constant rush of a week I’ve been having. With all able-bodied men, women, and children of the SA having being mobilized for the United Council Vote Initiative which ended today, I was honestly too busy to even give a report on Sunday’s senate meeting. Rather than attempt to do so now, I’ll just suffice to say it was a bit of an expected, if not uneventful meeting. With the happy exception of a few new senators being appointed, and the first outing for the newly elected Freshmen, it was quite uneventful. All of the old business, including the “Campus Life Act” and my “Senate Accountability Act” was passed, so look out wayward senators, and prepare for a quick and unforgiving dose of myself and Senator Ludwig’s blend of fast acting and hard hitting accountability. (BAM)

Unfortunately, and despite our best efforts, the SA failed to reach our goal of 2000 new voters registered on campus. I expect we’ll end up somewhere between 800-900. This is actually quite good for the number of volunteers we were forced to work with, which ended up being somewhere around 5-10. I wish the Senate would have done a bit more, and I’ll take the next chance to remind them to become a bit more active, during the next meeting.

A student-wide email went out today, naming 25 members of the Chancellor Search and Screen Committee. The two student representatives are the SA President and Vice President. I don’t know what screwed up math equation the board of regents was using to proportion the number of seats for the committee, but how did a campus of 30,000 students end up with only 2 student representatives on the committee? Bullshit.

I believe it would be a good decision for the two student representatives to call an informal committee to meet with interested students about the type of questions they want asked during the sessions. I believe as student representatives, they have a duty to listen to the concerns of the student body. I’ll bring this up to them ASAP. (no pun intended)

Also, the Union is donating $1,300 to the SA, which in turn will donate the full amount to the Haiti Relief Fund. It’s pretty generous of the Union to do this, although it’s a shame the original money was never found. And Katie, the Union donating money doesn’t prove your innocence, nor does it prove Michaels stole the money, if he did, why the hell wouldn’t Scott Gore fire him? Christ. This donation only shows that the Union is willing to move on from this embarrassing debacle, and keep the original goal in view, which was of course, donating money to Haiti.

I’ll try to be a bit more timely in updating, Menace fans (and Kyle) but being a full time student has its costs. I look forward to starting my new Public Relations Initiatives next week, which I’ll fill everyone in about later on.

Onwards and Upwards,

-Red Menace, out

The Press Release

*This is the official SA Press Release on the senate meeting of Sept. 26th. I am reposting it here, so as to help my readers understand what happened.*


Solo Student Association Senator denies Organization Renewal Extension

MIWAUKEE, WI; September 27th, 2010: A single member of the Student Association Senate blocked the passage of the “Campus Life Act,” legislation aimed at extending the deadline for the Student Activities Office’s controversial new org renewal program. The new process, which was put into effect with no formal student consent or review, requires student organizations to navigate a lengthy online process, submit paperwork and documentation of officers, and attend mandatory org renewal trainings. Student organizations not renewed stand to lose their status as a registered organization by the University, causing them to lose funds, office space, and supplies that they have been allocated.
During the vote on the “Campus Life Act,“ Letters and Science Senator Anahit Campbell voiced the lone objection to the bill. When pressed for her reasons, she questioned why SA officials had not first spoken to SAO with their complaints. Student Association President Travis Romero-Boeck assured the senate that he had been in contact with SAO numerous times, and had been unable to work out a compromise. Due to the Student Association’s bylaws, non-budgetary legislation passed without unanimous consent must wait two meetings to take effect. By the next senate meeting, the detrimental effects the renewal process will have already taken their course. After a budgetary amendment was added to the bill, and the approval vote was commencing, Senator Campbell walked off the Senate floor and waited to hear that quorum wasn’t reached before leaving.
The Student Association considers student organizations critical to the wellbeing of campus life, and denounces Senator Campbell’s brazen disregard for the opinions of her constituents, and the campus community at large. “It is our responsibility as student representatives to support organizations on campus,” stated fellow senator Moondancer Drake, “I can’t understand how anyone could feel differently.” Due to the lack of quorum created by Campbell’s absence, over twenty student committee posts were left unapproved, leaving many committees without representation until the next senate meeting, later in October. Student Association officials are seeking alternate methods to allow student organizations time to renew in a student-friendly manner. “Student organizations are at the heart of the UWM campus community. I truly believe it is the duty of the Student Association to ensure that the interests of student organizations are represented,” stated Romero-Boeck.
The UWM Student Association is the student’s voice that seeks out new and innovative ways to prompt positive change on campus and in the community. The Student Association creates a trustworthy and transparent relationship with all of the student body. For more information on the Student Association please visit www.sa.uwm.edu or contact Alex Kostal at 414.229.4366.

Another eventful meeting

Every time I enter a senate meeting, I don't know what's going to happen. I may have an agenda, I may have spoken with senators beforehand, but each and every senate meeting is completely unscripted, and no matter how many senators seem agreeable and non-confrontational, chances are they'll be some drama. Yesterday's meeting was no different.

Senator Ludwig and I had been working on a accountability bill during the week before yesterday. Its aim was to nail down all branches of the SA to a common code of conduct, including writing weekly activity reports, recording hours, and appearing before the senate. We decided the best course of action would be to submit chunks of the bill bit by bit, until the goals were met. This included submitting a small piece of legislation setting the number of demerit points needed for removal from the senate at 12. We wished to go lower, to 9, but were informed a bill with 9 points would receive a presidential veto. After what happened later on in the meeting, its no surprise Travis isn't keen to depopulate the senate.

Besides that, I also had my "Equal Borrowing Privileges Act" up for consideration, which I'm proud to say passed unanimously early on in the meeting. After a lengthy opening, it was realized that the speaker had missed over twenty committee appointments when making the agenda, they would have to be added near the end. One of the largest bills up for consideration was the "Campus Life Act" which sought to extend the deadline for SAO's student org renewal process. Long story short, Senator Campbell and Kadulski left the meeting, which broke quorum, not allowing an extension, and also removing any chance of the committee posts being appointed. I've spent all day writing up versions of this story, so I'll just re-post the official SA press release on what happened. More info will be given soon.

-Red Menace out.

REDRUM

Well, this past week hasn't been so good for the Public Relations Man's Public Relations. I've been taking it pretty hard from both the extreme left (members of SDS) over my team up with Brent Johnson on the Humans vs Zombies Project, as well as the extreme right, over at PantherTalk Live. Nonetheless, we will roll on, and victory is on the horizon.

Today I learned that Student Association Senator Katie Krause, who readers of this blog will remember has been the subject of a SORC investigation for the last few weeks now, has submitted her formal resignation from the Senate, effective immediately. This comes a day after the University Student Court decided not to take on a case calling for a TRO on the investigation, and a look into the conduct of the SORC committee. It is strongly believed by many people in the administration, including myself, that this case was written on Krause's behalf by none other than Kyle Duerstein.

The case itself was weak, as are the constant claims of SORC abuse. Public meeting laws were not violated during the process, nor does anyone have proof to the contrary. If we are to believe public meetings laws were broken, the question becomes, how would notices have changed the process? As a member of the committee, I can testify that during the SORC meetings we have held, none went more than 5 minutes without entering closed session, which by state law dictates all spectators must leave for the duration of the session. Nothing would have changed. After exhausting every possible attempt to stall the proceedings, Krause finally resigned, knowing there was no way to win. A report of SORC's findings will be presented to the SA Senate, along with recommendations for future money handling, regardless of the resignation.

The Senate meeting tomorrow should be quite eventful. There are many pieces of legislation up for debate, including my "Borrowing Privileges Act" which if passed, will give undergraduates the abilty to circulate periodicals, magazines, and journals for a 48 hour period. There is also going to be a return of a Employee Accountability Act, which myself and Senator Ludwig have worked hard to improve. I have high hopes for its passage. Among other things, the Senate will inspect legislation seeking to improve the SAO organization renewal process.

In other news, I have taken over the responsibilities of the United Council Vote Intern, and look forward to doing my best to ensure many voters are registered on our campus. With the SFC process set to begin anytime now, and the Krause matter all but taken care of, I look forward to beginning work matters that will truly improve the life of the student body.

-Red Menace out.

P.S. My editorial "Time to tackle the Athletic Budget" will be appearing in the UWM Post this week, be sure to check it out!

The Almighty "Rider Bill", SFC, and the fight for tomorrow

And as quickly as it had come, the first Student Association Senate meeting of the fall term was over. After the gavel sounded for the final time yesterday night, the Student Association began to travel down a new path.

As I explained in my last post, yesterday's meeting was important for several different reasons. It saw a new strategic planning committee confirmed, Senate Finance Committee positions elected, and a very special budget bill passed.

The meeting got off to an exciting start, Speaker McCall had to motion to amend the agenda to allow the SFC elections, and afterwards I had to further amend in order to add the last minute "Budget Adjustment Bill." While money did need to be transferred for the upcoming Constitution Day here at UWM, the end of the bill held a surprise, a referendum on UWM joining the United Council of UW Students. UC is a state wide, student-run lobbying group, as well as a type of state student government. It is funded by about $2.00 per student per semester in refundable fees. In 2008, after UC underwent some restructuring, UWM held a referendum, in which the majority of students decided they wanted UWM to opt out of UC membership. Currently, every UW school with the exception of Milwaukee and four others are members of UC.

Attempts have been made during last year's administration to hold a referendum, but legislation could not pass by the Senate. I have always respected UC's mission of student lobbying, and supported UWM's membership. Although UC already offers UWM some of its services, without membership, it's hard to find representation in the leadership. Becoming part of UC would give UWM students access to many benefits, and allow UWM students to take part in forming UC policy.

Student Association referendums can only be held during a time in which a campus-wide ballot is circulated, that means only in April, during the regular SA elections, and in September, during the freshman elections. We needed the Senate to allow the referendum, but during the usual legislative process, this would take two meetings, unless unanimously approved. (Impossible with Senator Walker threatening to filibuster everything the SA does unless this blog goes inactive.) Luckily, I suggested attaching the UC legislation onto a budget bill, which by the SA bylaws takes only one meeting, and a 2/3 vote to pass. The bill passed, and now we are looking forward to the results of the referendum. I sincerely hope we will be members of United Council by the end of October.

Later on, the Senate broke up into groups based on their school, in order to choose their SFC delegates. Myself and Senator Barth were chosen by the At-Large caucus. I cannot wait to start working on SFC. For too long the committee has been pumping money into sick and wasteful departments and programs like athletics. I believe this year the committee should carefully scrutinize every program, and cut the wasteful and irresponsible spending.

Afterwards, SORC Chair Barth requested an additional 14 days for the investigation from the senate, which was approved after my motion. Senator Krause did not seem pleased. We hope to meet within the next 72 hours. I will most likely not be able to report on what happened during the meeting, as it will be during closed session. I will write as much as I ethically can, however, and I would advise interested parties to look for updates to the investigation in the UWM Post.

On another note, I have noticed an absence from the man over at PantherTalk Live. Through the Chancellor resigning, to the Krause investigation, and now the UC referendum, the blog has remained silent. I suppose this proves what most of us already knew, that Duerstein's blog never attempted to cover real campus news, only a mixture of half-truths, mistakes, and lies.

The current "opposition" is similar, in that it doesn't attempt to unite around any specific, legitimate concern, only hatred for the present, and fear of the future. Student Association members like Senator Walker publicly threaten to hold up meetings and filibuster, and then time after time, go absent from the Senate meetings. I pity the students misrepresented by these people.

In the next week I will be heading up to Madison for the UC event with Senator Johnson, which I look forward to, and I also will be working on some new legislation concerning Greek Life, and library policy. The SA Corn Roast is coming up quick, and so is PantherFest. See you all soon!

-Red Menace out.

Red Note

This will continue in my tradition of dashing off a quick blog before an upcoming senate meeting, then most likely writing something akin to Tolstoy afterward. School started today, and I'm pleased to find my classes invigorating and enjoyable. However after the whirlwind day over at the SA office, my classes are the farthest thing from my mind. (probably not a good thing)

I have decided to write another editorial for the UWM Post. This one will focus on something that should be pressing in every active student's mind, the growing athletic deficit. I did a bit of research for the piece today, and found some disturbing numbers. UWM's basketball coach Rob Jeter currently collects a salary of over $411,000, which places him at third in the Horizon league for salary. In the last four years as head coach, Jeter's Panthers haven't even broken into the top three in standing. In recruiting costs, the Panthers are second in the league at $80,000. I understand Athletics's unique place in college life, however should students really be paying so much to prop up a mediocre at best team? I doubt pumping more money into the problem is the way to go either. UWM's athletics program is over 9 million in debt, and now without a director.

In other news, I plan on introducing legislation at the Sept. 26th meeting, calling on the UWM Library System to allow undergraduates the same magazine and journal borrowing privileges given to graduate students and faculty. I also am about to investigate how to introduce more vegetarian options on campus. In preparation for these tasks I have submitted paperwork to join the University Dining Committee, B.O.S.S Advisory Committee, and Library Committee. I'm also going to attend a United Council vote-training event next upcoming weekend in Madison with Assistant Legislative Liaison Brent Johnson. Should be interesting, and hopefully fun. We'll make sure to show some Milwaukee pride.

This upcoming senate meeting should be quite interesting, and I hope people will attend. Other than that, make sure to check back on the 6th for a "menace summery" of the meeting.


See you on the 6th!

-Red Menace out.

Pre-agenda tactics, a codifying committee, and the SORC-ing of Senator Krause

These summer senate meetings are always the apex of the month for me. All the effort and planning of around thirty days goes into a hour long meeting. Usually I am left unsatiated and wanting. Today was different, I feel accomplished. I have known for a few weeks that this would be one of my most active meetings, as I had two pieces of legislation to be voted on, a committee appointment to block, and the task of referring one of my peers to SORC, the Senate Oversight and Rules Committee. I am pleased to say that 3 out of the four tasks were successfully completed.

My activity today started off during the approval of the agenda, when I objected to it outright. The ever-controversial Kyle Duerstein was up for appointment to the Chancellor's allocable fund review committee, and most of the senate was shocked to think of the Big D. becoming active in SA again. A line had be drawn. If we as an organization are serious about fixing our reputation in the eyes of the students, we must rebuff any attachment to our past demons. After I stated this belief to the senate, I moved to amend the agenda by removing Kyle's name. The amendment passed with only two or three nays.

Unfortunately, the agenda was not approved immediately after. Senator Ludwig, who had confronted me earlier about his concerns, moved to remove my legislation, The SA Employee Accountability Act, from the agenda. This ended up causing quite a lot of debate from a few senators. Secretary Stoll took an especially hard line against it, calling the piece "dishonest." According to her, "we should not even be considering..(employee infraction-based fines)..at all. It seems my attempt to force some small bit of productivity on the University Student Court had an entirely unexpected effect, and ended up terrifying certain members of the executive branch. This legislation would have deducted a $100 fine out of the budget stipend for each time a SA official failed to clock in the mandatory 10 hours per week. This would seem to be an instance in which only those who usually fail to meet the requirements would take umbrage, although I'll let SA observers be the judge of that.

Although I doubt it, this brush with budgetary consequences might push some SA officials into actually completing their hours. The alternative is ridiculous. Let's take a look at the Assistant Chief Justice's current salary. I have not seen this man one time in my half year in SA, with the exception of at the recent retreat. He makes a total of $541 a month, under an assumption he works ten office hours a week. That in itself is an outrage, because even if he did, he would be making an average of $13.50 an hour. Let us, for the point of the argument, assume he works closer to 5 hours a week. that makes his pay $27 per hour. Now, I understand the concept of salary pay, people like the SA President are basically on the clock 24/7, and an hourly pay plan wouldn't do that justice, but when the Court is allocated $30,000 a year from student fees, and they handled a total of two cases last year, one has to start looking for answers, and after that, bylaw and budget changes.

Soon after, my Strategic Planning Committee bill passed, giving Senator Campbell a chance of chairmanship. This committee will help define SA's role in campus affairs, etc. I was pleased to momentarily see a non-hostile Senator Cambpell, only to change back into the antagonistic one I have become accustomed to, when the biggest event of the night occurred.

Although the cat was somewhat out of the bag since I asked for Post presence at the meeting, the motion to refer Senator Krause to SORC was received with some initial shock. I read it as surprise that this old skeleton had been dragged out of the closet, after months had passed and a new administration had taken over. Senator Krause was in charge of collecting fundraising money last year as Public Relations Director, and under her watch, the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund was given around $150 of what was reportedly over $1500 collected. I explained to the senate that as the official in charge of the money collection, she could best answer questions on where the money went. I reminded them that they were not passing judgement by affirming the referral to SORC, just doing their part to ensure that answers are found. I have no doubt in my mind, given the evidence I've seen, that Krause absconded with some of the money, however SORC will leave no piece of evidence unturned in their search for the truth. SORC's referral to the senate will be unbiased and timely, it is scheduled to be delivered at the next senate meeting in early September. During that meeting, SORC will make their recommendation to the senate. The senate will then vote on which action to take, impeachment, or otherwise. If the senate moves for impeachment, those proceedings will take place during the next senate meeting, most likely in closed session, which I see as an unfair guard against popular knowledge.

Some may wonder why I bothered to find these battles today. Why waste time attempting to fix past wrongs when the present gives a unique chance for progress? I do this for the future of the SA, for as long as these tarnishes on our reputation are allowed to languish, we shall never escape them.

Until next time,

-Red Menace out.

And if you didn't believe me before...

Well I think now we can all admit it. UWM's Chancellor Santiago is a jerk. By this time, most every campus-active student has heard the news that Santiago has resigned his post as chancellor, apparently to become the CEO of a D.C. based nonprofit organization called The Hispanic College Fund. After serving as chancellor for a shocking six years, (it seems past chancellors haven't stuck around that long) Santiago has left for greener pastures. What really bugs me, and I believe the rest of the campus, is the suddenness of this decision. Although Santiago has publicly been vying for other jobs, no one this side of the SA administration had suspected him to leave now. That is, now that most of his controversial campus developments and business ventures are about to take off. I haven't been a supporter of Santiago's "master plan," I disliked its focus on research over traditional liberal arts, and its general lack of consideration of criticism, but at least in Santiago, our campus had a leader. What kind of man spends years battling for changes to an institution he supposedly loves, then abandons it in its most harrowing hour?

Now UWM is at a crossroads. Whoever is appointed interim-chancellor must oversee the upcoming projects, as well as continue to generate ideas and creative force to keep the campus going. Then we must go through a lengthy search and screen process, which UW Systems President Kevin P. Reilly claims will have ample student involvement. Finally around next summer, we may have a chancellor. All these changes are ultimately bad for UWM, we have lost a charismatic force on campus, and a well known face to donaters. We have lost time and effort, and the SA is left spinning, unsure how to continue with the 36.09(5) implementation plan. Santiago was open to the idea of helping to codify the student government's role on campus, we can only hope the next chancellor is equally understanding of Wisconsin state law.

This day was historic for myself in other ways, as the newly appointed Special Assistant to the President on Public Relations, I wrote the SA's official press release on Santiago's resignation, which I then emailed to pretty much every media outlet available. It was rewarding to work with the SA in a "crisis time" and I believe I performed well.

Aside from these developments, the next senate meeting is coming up on the 22nd, and it's sure to be a big one. I can't blow the surprise just yet, but some important decisions will be taking place, and two pieces of my legislation will be going before the senate. I can't wait for the next update, and I'm sure you all can't either.

Until next time,

-Red Menace out.

Rolling on through summer

I'm updating this a bit later than I wanted to, however with the Riverwest24 and the move into my new apartment, I've been quite the busy beaver..err, Panther. The July 25th senate meeting was the quickest I'd ever seen. Things got started right away, and except for a bit of a boring talk by Tom Dake, expediency was the word of the day.

On the agenda was the confirmation of several new committee spots, as well as three legislative bills, and a SAC bylaw change. Everything was packaged and approved, without so much as a peep of disagreement. Well, I actually motioned for an additional senate meeting in December, which failed. Since all of the committee appointments and bills, including The People's Bill, authored by yours truly, were approved unanimously, they don't require a second meeting to confirm. Take that dissenters! I was happy everything passed, but I also wish that most of the senators cared more. The SAC bylaw changes were important, warranting discussion and friendly debate, yet none of the senators made any motions. Perhaps that's summer, not a whole lot of enthusiasm. As per the committee appointments, I am now a member of SAC and SORC, both as RSO membership. I look forward to getting lots of work done on these committees.

After the meeting, in between moving and the bike race, I was hired as a Special Assistant to the Public Relations Department. My task is to help improve the press release process, and streamline publicity affairs. Although I'm just getting started, I already love my job, and I look forward to continuing in a similar direction with my eventual chairmanship of SLIC.

Due to my recent and continued activity with the SA over the summer, I should be updating more frequently. Less than a month to go before the next semester! Oh and Kyle, thanks for the bump, I'll enjoy all the added activity around here, and I happily await more comments and questions.

-Red Menace out.

Menace Update

With more than five weeks since my last update, I figured I should write something, and give a quick look at this Sunday's upcoming senate meeting. What was supposed to be a blisteringly fast summer took a turn for the worst during the first SLIC meeting about a month ago. It looks like my chairmanship of SLIC will not start until early August. I'm currently faced with the problem of how to start procuring funds for SLIC, since the only money allocated to the committee will be my salary. Although I'm looking forward to getting paid to use my brain, unless I can secure funding from SA directly for what will be an eventful year for SLIC, I'll probably have to use funds from the $3500 chairman stipend.

In other news, the Socialist Student Association has finally gotten our office together, and begun planning for next year. Things are looking good up here in 364/394, and I think we'll be able to accomplish many exciting things. I'm excited to announce that two members of the SSA will be (hopefully) filling RSO seats on SAC, myself, and Hector Santiago. For too long, SAC has been powerless to stop opportunist grant-rolling and deception. If appointed to SAC, I intend to fix these problems for good.

I was also appointed to the President's Commission to enact 36.09(5), which will work over the course of the year to codify student gov's place at UWM. The final product should help strengthen the students and give the SA more clout. I'll keep this updated on progress here.

Finally, I submitted my first piece of legislation to the SA, which is set to vote on it the 25th. I've decided to call this bill, which would set up a formal question and answer session for spectators after senate meetings, the People's Bill. I believe introducing a bill aimed at increasing transparency and activity is a good place to start. More legislation is on the way. I have the first executive committee meeting coming up this Thursday, which will be historic in its democratic and open administration of the senate agenda. Full speed ahead to the 25th!

-Red Menace out.

A raucous start to a hopeful year

The first senate meeting of the 2010-2011 term kicked off on Sunday the 6th. The meeting saw a definite change in policy, as well as outlook in the SA. Although the ASAP party now holds a large majority, the new bylaw changes were fiercely contested by the small opposition.

These bylaw changes amended the constitution to require a 2/3 vote of all seated senators to change the bylaws in the future, as well took away a certain portion of the speaker's power. The bylaws were, in my opinion, a much needed change to a decaying system. Last year saw so many abuses by speaker Duerstein, that I think most people are looking forward to that position having some oversight, now being the executive committee. This will ensure that the speaker cannot decide not to include important bills, etc, on the agenda, not, as senator Walker and the opposition argued, enforce a dictatorship of the executive branch. The opposition is still stuck in the past, viewing inter-SA relations as a matter of endlessly balancing the power of two supposedly constantly opposed branches. Hopefully, future SA representatives will be spared the incessant bickering and backstabbing we knew all too well years past.

Today the UW board of regents is in town to discuss, amongst other things, a possible 5.5% tuition hike. As per usual, SDS is protesting their lack of ability to speak at the event. Although I would like to see a system in which every student could get a chance to talk with the administration, one must understand the concept of plausible representation. Whether they know it or not, UWM's elected executives are talking with the board of regents today, addressing the tuition hike and student concern. From the regent's perspective, SA leaders are actual representatives, whereas members of RSOs like SDS could be said to represent only a small portion of student interest. They would take SDS's demands no more seriously than those of UWM's Pagan Association. In order for the left to respected, they must become a part of UWM's legitimate authority, the best choice being to join SA. Unless they notice this, I will continue to be the SA's lone red menace.

I'm looking forward to working with on SLIC this year. I plan on putting the best of my ideas and work ethic into trying to do some good through this committee. Soon we'll have our first meeting, and I hope to hit the ground running. Although the first meeting of the term didn't go so smoothly, everything was passed eventually, and the best candidates were elected to their respective posts. I believe for SA, this is the beginning of a new, brighter chapter. Our next meeting in July should start to form what the new administration's focus will be.

Until then,

Red Menace, out.

Victory!

After one failed attempt, and a loss of credibility, the SA elections commenced, and after fighting off a write-in campaign from another late senate appointee, I have secured my seat come hell or high water until at least April of 2011. I find myself almost happy that the elections were originally cancelled, for it was during the break between the two that I discovered the plan to take my seat was already under way. I won't know the full vote count until late Monday, but I expect it won't be much. I'm obviously interested in how close I came to defeat.

This election has given me many ideas for how to organize for next year's elections. I have many good ideas for how to mobilize the masses. These will have to be filed deep in my brain until next year, unfortunately. In other SA news, my faith in the students is renewed, for they have struck down the Union Regeneration bill with a 57% showing.

I have been appointed to the "Search and Screen" committee to choose the new dean of students. I look forward to helping the school make this important decision. Looking into the future, I'm getting ready for the first meeting of the Safety Committee, as well as the start of the new term in under two months. I plan on joining the SFC, SAC, the Union Policy Board, and perhaps SORC. We'll see how this goes in June. Now there's only one more senate meeting, and this era of tyrannical conservative dominance in the SA is over. Let the red flag fly!

A busy week in the SA

Its been a busy week here at the UWM SA. Our non-competitive elections were cancelled due to fraud, the IEC Commissioner was fired, without pay, and now the previously vetoed "Union Regeneration" project is being rammed down the student body's throat, with a tidy, seemingly fool-proof online ballot. Go figure.

The election cancellation news broke last Thursday, and since then it has not quite been business as usual in the SA. At yesterday's emergency SA meeting last night, IEC Commissioner Haskell argued that it was "not her responsibility" to ensure a fair outcome in the election. She continued to call the IEC bylaws "corrupt." She was admonished, and then removed in a vote of no confidence I supported with a 19-2 tally.

Now the elections are to be turned over to the administration of the court, even though as members of the IEC, they should share the blame for this catastrophe. Now even less people will vote, and SA's credibility will continue to plummet.

The Union Regeneration project looks set to pass, regardless of the fact it was vetoed for an important reason. The Union IS NOT in need of an upgrade that will cost $100+ each semester for every student for the next two decades. Of course a “Union Regeneration” would be nice, but this is not financially viable for the majority of working class students on campus. This project won’t even be completed by the time all of us graduate.

This legislation was vetoed, and it should not be going before a student body who is unaware of the tremendous costs. With the Union Policy Board pushing such intense propaganda however, I doubt the student body will block it.

Tyranny in the SA Senate

About two hours ago most of the hope I had for SA and its effectiveness was dashed. Now this doesn't have much to do with the conservative dominance in SA. Nor is it because most of the comments on my article "One vote, One choice?" on the online edition of "The Post" strayed from the main point of the article. My anger and frustration has everything to do with the absurdly tyrannical behavior of Speaker of the Senate Kyle Duerstein. Duerstein should be ashamed of his professional misconduct today, his rude and illegal actions brought senators from both sides of the isle together in an attempt to remove him from the meeting. These attempts failed, thanks in part to the approval of three new senators, whose first action in SA was to reinforce Durstein's dictatorship. These people will unfailingly let down the students time and time again over their tenure in the senate.

For those of you who weren't at the meeting, the issue began with Duerstein's refusal to accept motions for roll-call vote concerning a bill (SR 09-100-01) on the floor to condemn the march 4th protest. Duerstein ignored the request, and proceeded claim the "Ayes" won the vote. Honestly, I could be biased in claiming the "Nays" indeed won, but regardless of who actually had more votes, a more exact procedure was called for. Even after the deputy speaker and many senators claimed it was too close to call, Duerstein refused to begin another vote. Later on I attempted to object to the decision of the chair, but again, the vote overulled me.

Today's senate meeting should be an important lesson to the future Speakers of the Senate on how not to act. I look forward to attending meetings chaired by someone, anyone else next semester, because as far as Speakers go, it can't get much worse than this.

"The Post" filmed the first vote on the bill:
http://www.uwmpost.com/2010/03/09/video-controversial-voice-vote-at-march-9-sa-senate-meeting/

A Letter to The UWM Post and SA's one party state

After being seated as an "At Large" senator, one would assume I'd be happy enough not to criticize the establishment. No such luck. A couple of days ago SA's official candidate list was released. It turns out there won't be one competitively elected seat this year. I am firmly opposed to this, and decided to write a letter to The Post. I would include the letter here, but blogger won't let me transfer a document. The letter will be included in tomorrow's issue of The Post, so anyone interested can check it out.

Instead of reitertating my points from the letter here, I'll include my thoughts on something I only learned thursday. Of the 34 seats open, 31 will go to member of UWM's one and only political party, ASAP. (acheiving student action through progress) That means besides myself, there are only two other independants! Can you say "one party state?" I believe this has to do with certain rules in the SA permitting a party to run candidates for senator if and only if they also run a candidate for the presidential/vice-presidential ticket. I intend to introduce a bill soon, hopefully with the sponsership of the other two independants in the election, to strike that clause from the election laws. Hopefully that will lead to other parties being active on campus.

My second senate meeting is coming up tuesday, and I hope to vote on a lot of legislation. I also hope to see a lot of spectators in the back, which brings me to another idea I've had recently. The senate should make time at the end of meetings to carry out a question and answer sessions with the people who show up to the meetings. It is nessesary for the people to feel dutifully represented in the SA.