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.