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.