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.

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.