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Student Council Meeting Recap: October 30

Posted: 2019-11-11 17:08:41   Expiration: 2040-11-18 16:08:41

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The Associated Students of Madison Student Council met on Wednesday, October 30 at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Activity Center Hearing Room. 

Chair Menden announced that he will be resigning as Nominations Board Chair. He also expressed a desire for other representatives and members of Coordinating Council to reach out to him if they are planning to not be on campus next semester.

Representative Ben-Yitschak provided an update, discussing a meeting with administration regarding the Wiscard Emergency Contact Resolution. Representative Lang offered his take as well, sharing how administration appears to be in support. It was additionally mentioned that there are plans by the university to potentially digitize Wiscards. 

Kayla Pennebecker spoke in open forum about an opportunity with Organizing Core 2020 during upcoming elections.  

Chair Downer introduced the ASM internal budget in a special order. 

She started with allocable segregated fees, which includes student leader services, supplies & services, leadership development & programming and grants. The allocable segregated fees for FY21 is a proposed $582,342.50, a -3.55% change from FY20 for a total of $21,457.00 in savings. 

Chair Downer next went into non-allocable segregated fees, which includes staff salaries and supplies & services. The non-allocable segregated fees for FY21 is a proposed $1,269.812.65, a -1.34% change from FY20 for a total of $17,286.05 in savings.

Representative Adams was sworn in to the Student Council.

Chair Downer made a motion to vote on the ASM internal budget. Representative Barry seconded. With a vote of 20-0-2, the body voted to suspend the rules to allow for debate and a vote on the legislation.

Rep Ben-Yitshak introduced an amendment to amend the Food Pantry Operations Expenses line item from $500 to $1,000. 

With a vote of 18-0-3, the amendment passes. 

Chair Downer motioned to vote to approve the ASM internal budget. It would then move forward to the Student Services Finance Committee, before ultimately coming back to Student Council.

With a vote of 18-0-3, the internal budget was approved and forwarded. 

Chair Downer introduced Subsection 1.04 - ASM Wage Policies.

Chair Goyal motioned to strike subsection 1.04(5) (b)i. With a vote of 19-1-2, the body voted to suspend the rules to allow for debate and a vote on the amendment. 

With a vote of 0-14-7, the amendment fails. 

Chair Bosma introduced an amendment that stipulated for paid positions to include those appointed by the Student Council and which receive monetary compensation in the ASM internal budget. Positions are thus eligible to receive an hourly compensation in the ASM internal budget only if they meet all the following criteria, excluding non-leadership members of allocating bodies.  With a vote of 18-0-2, the body voted to end debate and move back to the original motion.

With a vote of 0-15-5 the amendment by Chair Bosma fails.

Chair Lammers told the body that she made cookies for everyone to eat during the next recess. Representative Ben-Yitschak motioned for a 3-minute recess. The motion was seconded and passed with a vote of 17-0-3. 

Chair Downer called the Council back to order and moved back into debate on the motion. WIth a vote of 16-0-2, the amendment by Chair Bosma passes. 

Representative Resch brought a point of debate about the wording of 1.04(4) (a)ii, changing it to say how paid positions include those appointed by the Student Council and receive monetary compensation in the ASM internal budget. Positions are eligible to receive an hourly compensation in the ASM internal budget only if they meet all the following criteria, excluding non-leadership members of allocating bodies. 

Representative Knochenumus called the previous question which failed with a vote of 6-8-5. Points of debate continued.

Representative Resch motioned to recess. With a vote of 6-11-3, the motion fails..

The first vote on approval of Subsection 1.04  - ASM Wage Policies passes with a vote of 15-1-4.

Director Lammers introduced the Diverse Management Coordinator. This position would take the place of the two Inclusion Ambassador positions and Assistant Outreach Director. The idea behind this position is to reaffirm ASM’s commitment toward working toward diversity and inclusion initiatives, as well as elevate the prior role of the Inclusion Ambassador. With a vote of 17-0-3, the body voted to suspend the rules to allow for debate and vote on the position. 

With a vote of 17-0-3, this motion passes and the position is approved. 

Chair Grunow introduced the Conference Selection Committee Standing Rules. With a vote of 18-0-2, the body voted to suspend the rules to allow for debate and vote. 

With a vote of 17-0-2, the standing rules passes.

Chair Bosma introduced legislation regarding the approval of a grant for “Diwali Night 2019” to an amount of $5521.11. With a vote of 18-0-2, the body voted to suspend the rules to allow for debate and vote. 

With a vote of 17-0-2, the event grant was approved.

Representative Barry introduced a piece of legislation concerning the convening of the Eligibility Criteria Review Committee. It stated that there shall be 2 at-large seats appointed by the Shared Governance Chair, all members of the Eligibility Criteria Review Committee shall have full voting rights and the Eligibility Criteria Review Committee be convened and begin meeting as soon as possible. With a vote of 17-0-2, the body voted to suspend the rules to allow for debate and a vote on the legislation. 

With a vote of 17-0-2, the legislation passes.

Chair Lampron introduced a resolution in support of the Student Inclusion Coalition. It affirmed ASM’s support of SIC, reevaluation of funding processes, a higher standard of knowledge and action around issues of identity and inclusion and a call on university administration in Student Affairs to engage in conversation with SIC, among other notions. With a vote of 14-0-5, the body voted to suspend the rules to allow for debate and a vote on the resolution. 

With a vote of 16-0-3 the legislation passes.

Chair Malloy introduced Board of Regents Free Speech Policy legislation. It called on the Board of Regents to allow each individual campus to determine their own free speech policy and called on the University of Wisconsin Madison to revisit their free speech policy and create guidelines to encourage discussion. With a vote of 15-2-3, the body voted to suspend the rules to allow for debate and a vote on the resolution. 

Chair Malloy motioned to table the debate and postpone to the next meeting. It passed with a vote of 15:0:2.

Representative Resch introduced the Special Committee on Campus Alcohol Policy. It establishes the Special Committee on Campus Alcohol Policy in accordance with the ASM Constitution, Article VIII, Section 3. Representative Resch stated stated that the committee is a response to recent alcohol-related surveys with a purpose in gathering qualitative data. 

Chair Resch motioned to table the debate and postpone to the next meeting. It passed with a vote of 16:0:2.

Representative Lang shared how there are currently two vacancies on the Nominations Boards. There were no nominations made.

Chair Pietroske shared how there was a vacancy on the SAC governing board. There were no nominations made. 

Chair reports were made.

New shared governance appointees were listed in Chair Goyal’s report. With a vote of 15-0-3, the appointees were approved.

Student Council will meet next on November 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Activity Center Hearing Room.


-- Associated Students of Madison: Matthew Mitnick