Check out The Daily for more up-to-date coverage.
—ALICE TRUONG
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Run-off elections today to decide president, SSVP
The competitive 10-member race has narrowed down to four more candidates that students will have to decide. Who will it be: Mark Crain or Neal Sales-Griffin? Nate Perkins or Hariharan ‘Harry’ Vijayaraghavan? Vote on NU Link today until 8 p.m.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Paying student government officials
About a month ago, Helen Wood reflected the job outgoing ASG President Jon Webber has done. Wood, who serves as the Center for Student Involvement director and Associated Student Government adviser, expressed how content she was with Webber’s tenure. But having worked with six previous Northwestern ASG presidents, she said she’s always impressed with the people that come in and take up the laborious job.
Webber, a Weinberg senior, didn’t expect the presidency to consume so much of his time. On top of trying to fulfill his campaign promises, Webber soon learned he was always on the job – whether it be meetings or e-mails, whether it be with administrators or his constituents.
“It takes a lot of energy, and it takes a lot of time,” Wood said. “The job is a lonely one. You’re taking a full-time job without pay.”
The fact is, about 80 percent of private universities compensate their student government officers with some sort of stipend or scholarship, according to Executive Director Butch Oxendine of the American Student Government Association, which compiles data on student governments nationwide.
Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, gives its Student Government Association president about $5,000 a year, which Oxendine said adds up to "pennies on the hour" considering the 40 plus number of hours she puts in per week. Northeastern University in Boston gives its Student Government Association a full tuition waiver and meal plan that adds up to about $24,000.
Compensation opens up the playing field because "otherwise, you just have rich kids running (because) it limits the pool you can draw from," Oxedine said. Many students might not be able to run for their student government because the time commitment would not allow them to work.
Oxendine said compensation for being active in one's student government is about the equivalent of athletes getting scholarships or newspaper staff members getting stipends. The Daily does offer small stipends to staff members who work at least twice a night.
—ALICE TRUONG
“It takes a lot of energy, and it takes a lot of time,” Wood said. “The job is a lonely one. You’re taking a full-time job without pay.”
The fact is, about 80 percent of private universities compensate their student government officers with some sort of stipend or scholarship, according to Executive Director Butch Oxendine of the American Student Government Association, which compiles data on student governments nationwide.
Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, gives its Student Government Association president about $5,000 a year, which Oxendine said adds up to "pennies on the hour" considering the 40 plus number of hours she puts in per week. Northeastern University in Boston gives its Student Government Association a full tuition waiver and meal plan that adds up to about $24,000.
Compensation opens up the playing field because "otherwise, you just have rich kids running (because) it limits the pool you can draw from," Oxedine said. Many students might not be able to run for their student government because the time commitment would not allow them to work.
Oxendine said compensation for being active in one's student government is about the equivalent of athletes getting scholarships or newspaper staff members getting stipends. The Daily does offer small stipends to staff members who work at least twice a night.
—ALICE TRUONG
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Elections committee confirmed
The members include: Samir Pendse, Will Upton, Mark Frantz, Ally Tawil, Brian Rosenthal, Jilian Lopez and Devon Pratt.
—ALICE TRUONG
A look into Webber's presidency
After hundreds of meetings with students, administrators or a combination of all of the above, Jonathan Webber can finally look forward to some free time. However, his time in politics is not over as he plans to assist his 24-year-old brother’s Missouri state representative campaign during Spring Quarter.
As part of finishing his tenure, the lame duck Associated Student Government president has been tying up loose ends by re-examining campus publicity guidelines, proposing an ASG budget half of last year’s and looking to change elements of A-status funding.
“I’ve learned a huge amount,” the Weinberg senior said. “I learned a lot about time management. I’ve failed at time management over and over again, but hopefully I’ve gotten a bit close to being better.”
A year ago, when he started thinking about running for this position, he didn’t realize just how much time the role would demand.
He came into the presidency with 10 projects he promised he would finish in less than a month. Even after that month, his plate remains full. His inbox always has e-mails from a variety of students who want to see some aspect of Northwestern changed. He is always scheduled to meet with students, fellow ASG members and administrators to talk about a new initiative or a new proposal. Webber would estimate spending about 20 hours of his week just on fulfilling the standard duties of ASG president. Any time spent on special projects would be in addition to those 20 hours.
For example, during Fall Quarter, Webber brought together student leaders and administrators to create a Student-Community Relations Task Force to discuss solutions for the increasing number of students, especially freshmen, in the hospital for alcohol-related reasons.
“That report was very well-done,” Vice President for Student Affairs William Banis said. “Jon has been very balanced and fair as a student advocate. He has been deliberate in gathering information on issues and doing his research.”
During his first quarter as president, Webber advocated for student theater groups, securing funding from the School of Communication, Norris University Center and ASG for a $20,000 investment in dimmer packs to ensure theater groups wouldn’t have to continue spending money renting them. Because funding is done on a yearly basis, securing funding for such lighting was an obstacle because of the cost.
“These dimmer packs will help for 25 years,” Communication junior Rebecca Stevens said. “He wasn’t advocating for student theater because he liked student theater better or thought we deserved more funding. What he was standing up and talking about was a different way to look at funding.”
But when Webber needs to take a break from his many responsibilities, he goes to the Center for Student Involvement office to chat with ASG Adviser Helen Wood for 20 to 30 hours per week.
“She’s one of my closest friends,” he said. “I rely on her literally every day of the year.”
Wood, who has worked with six NU ASG presidents, said Webber was willing to work behind the scenes for issues that affect students and not to bask in the glory of having his name in the newspaper.
“The job is a lonely one. You’re taking a full-time job without pay,” she said. “It takes a lot of energy, and it takes a lot of time.”
Wood said she acted as a sounding board for Webber where he was able to unload and not have to worry about his agenda.
“I think that’s where our relationship grew – being in a situation where he trusts me,” she said.
Because “universities are notorious for moving very slowly,” the effects of Webber’s work might not come into fruition for a couple more years, Wood said.
“Being patient and understanding – that is the best thing he’s been able to do,” she said. “The future of Northwestern will benefit.”
So far, Webber has built the foundation for future initiatives by researching and starting conversations. Such projects include creating a 24-hour campus and an office for off-campus students.
“I’m confident I will leave ASG better than I found it,” Webber said. “I really think a lot of the projects that I worked on — that they’re going to have an effect on campus two to five years from now.”
—ALICE TRUONG
As part of finishing his tenure, the lame duck Associated Student Government president has been tying up loose ends by re-examining campus publicity guidelines, proposing an ASG budget half of last year’s and looking to change elements of A-status funding.
“I’ve learned a huge amount,” the Weinberg senior said. “I learned a lot about time management. I’ve failed at time management over and over again, but hopefully I’ve gotten a bit close to being better.”
A year ago, when he started thinking about running for this position, he didn’t realize just how much time the role would demand.
He came into the presidency with 10 projects he promised he would finish in less than a month. Even after that month, his plate remains full. His inbox always has e-mails from a variety of students who want to see some aspect of Northwestern changed. He is always scheduled to meet with students, fellow ASG members and administrators to talk about a new initiative or a new proposal. Webber would estimate spending about 20 hours of his week just on fulfilling the standard duties of ASG president. Any time spent on special projects would be in addition to those 20 hours.
For example, during Fall Quarter, Webber brought together student leaders and administrators to create a Student-Community Relations Task Force to discuss solutions for the increasing number of students, especially freshmen, in the hospital for alcohol-related reasons.
“That report was very well-done,” Vice President for Student Affairs William Banis said. “Jon has been very balanced and fair as a student advocate. He has been deliberate in gathering information on issues and doing his research.”
During his first quarter as president, Webber advocated for student theater groups, securing funding from the School of Communication, Norris University Center and ASG for a $20,000 investment in dimmer packs to ensure theater groups wouldn’t have to continue spending money renting them. Because funding is done on a yearly basis, securing funding for such lighting was an obstacle because of the cost.
“These dimmer packs will help for 25 years,” Communication junior Rebecca Stevens said. “He wasn’t advocating for student theater because he liked student theater better or thought we deserved more funding. What he was standing up and talking about was a different way to look at funding.”
But when Webber needs to take a break from his many responsibilities, he goes to the Center for Student Involvement office to chat with ASG Adviser Helen Wood for 20 to 30 hours per week.
“She’s one of my closest friends,” he said. “I rely on her literally every day of the year.”
Wood, who has worked with six NU ASG presidents, said Webber was willing to work behind the scenes for issues that affect students and not to bask in the glory of having his name in the newspaper.
“The job is a lonely one. You’re taking a full-time job without pay,” she said. “It takes a lot of energy, and it takes a lot of time.”
Wood said she acted as a sounding board for Webber where he was able to unload and not have to worry about his agenda.
“I think that’s where our relationship grew – being in a situation where he trusts me,” she said.
Because “universities are notorious for moving very slowly,” the effects of Webber’s work might not come into fruition for a couple more years, Wood said.
“Being patient and understanding – that is the best thing he’s been able to do,” she said. “The future of Northwestern will benefit.”
So far, Webber has built the foundation for future initiatives by researching and starting conversations. Such projects include creating a 24-hour campus and an office for off-campus students.
“I’m confident I will leave ASG better than I found it,” Webber said. “I really think a lot of the projects that I worked on — that they’re going to have an effect on campus two to five years from now.”
—ALICE TRUONG
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Group executive accountability bill passed with continuing debate over SAFB accountability
And for the third straight week, debate ensued over the group executive accountability bill. Where once the original bill showed divisions between Executive Vice President Matt Bogusz and members of his executive committee, the revised bill showed divisions between the Senate, including the executive committee, and the Student Activities Finance Board. This has been a contentious topic making its way through three Associated Student Government Senate meetings thus far. Though the body passed a bill to mandate student group reviews of group executives, it will likely reappear on the Senate floor, revised to increase accountability of SAFB's group account executives.
At the end of the night, the original bill presented to Senate — only to create group executive accountability — was passed. Another vote was taken in order to permanently write the bill's protocol into ASG guidelines instead of having the bill take effect for only two years, as all ASG bills do. A two-thirds majority is needed to change ASG guidelines.
A proposed legislative order by Will Upton to require SAFB to similar accountability rules failed to meet a two-thirds majority, with only 58 percent of Senate for the order. Upton suggested SAFB use the same bill, revised in ways to fit the board, such as changing the questions student group leaders would answer.
SAFB members debated vehemently against such a move. The order to require the financial vice president draft something similar to what the executive committee has presented made the board defensive. Members see the idea of improving accountability important, but thought it was unfair to make SAFB do something it hasn't discussed yet whereas the executive committee has had several weeks to create and revise its bill before presenting to Senate.
"I think it's unfair to ask us to take the same bill and change the questions and not have us discuss it within the committee," board member Cassie Witten said.
Weinberg freshman Jonathan Green, one of the group executive accountability bill's authors, said there was enough flexibility for SAFB by altering the questionnaire that would be used to gather feedback from student group leaders. Before the legislative order was presented, Witten argued against using the same form, but said she would like to see the questions changed to include other aspects, such as professionalism of account executives.
ASG President Jon Webber said that when he was talking to more than 20 A-status group leaders, accountability was a big theme that emerged from discussions to improve or change the way SAFB and A-status funding cycle work.
Furthermore, the board did not like the idea of making such information public because of fear of backlash from student groups who resented not get the amount of money requested from the board during the spring funding cycle.
"I think it's limiting," Financial Vice President Seva Rodnyansky said of the legislative order. "Those comments (from student group leaders) would be colored by money and funding."
There is also information about SAFB that members argued to stay within the closed committee. Bogusz argued that presenting the SAFB accountability information to Senate was important.
"The question is whether or not this information should come to you (senators)," he said. "That's assuming the groups we're dealing with are stupid, uninformed and don't deserved to be listened to. We're not here to protect people in our committees. You should all have the information for every committee for which you authorize."
The legislative order to apply the bill's theme to SAFB has failed, but senators hinted that a similar bill might reappear, perhaps for the fourth week in a row.
—ALICE TRUONG
At the end of the night, the original bill presented to Senate — only to create group executive accountability — was passed. Another vote was taken in order to permanently write the bill's protocol into ASG guidelines instead of having the bill take effect for only two years, as all ASG bills do. A two-thirds majority is needed to change ASG guidelines.
A proposed legislative order by Will Upton to require SAFB to similar accountability rules failed to meet a two-thirds majority, with only 58 percent of Senate for the order. Upton suggested SAFB use the same bill, revised in ways to fit the board, such as changing the questions student group leaders would answer.
SAFB members debated vehemently against such a move. The order to require the financial vice president draft something similar to what the executive committee has presented made the board defensive. Members see the idea of improving accountability important, but thought it was unfair to make SAFB do something it hasn't discussed yet whereas the executive committee has had several weeks to create and revise its bill before presenting to Senate.
"I think it's unfair to ask us to take the same bill and change the questions and not have us discuss it within the committee," board member Cassie Witten said.
Weinberg freshman Jonathan Green, one of the group executive accountability bill's authors, said there was enough flexibility for SAFB by altering the questionnaire that would be used to gather feedback from student group leaders. Before the legislative order was presented, Witten argued against using the same form, but said she would like to see the questions changed to include other aspects, such as professionalism of account executives.
ASG President Jon Webber said that when he was talking to more than 20 A-status group leaders, accountability was a big theme that emerged from discussions to improve or change the way SAFB and A-status funding cycle work.
Furthermore, the board did not like the idea of making such information public because of fear of backlash from student groups who resented not get the amount of money requested from the board during the spring funding cycle.
"I think it's limiting," Financial Vice President Seva Rodnyansky said of the legislative order. "Those comments (from student group leaders) would be colored by money and funding."
There is also information about SAFB that members argued to stay within the closed committee. Bogusz argued that presenting the SAFB accountability information to Senate was important.
"The question is whether or not this information should come to you (senators)," he said. "That's assuming the groups we're dealing with are stupid, uninformed and don't deserved to be listened to. We're not here to protect people in our committees. You should all have the information for every committee for which you authorize."
The legislative order to apply the bill's theme to SAFB has failed, but senators hinted that a similar bill might reappear, perhaps for the fourth week in a row.
—ALICE TRUONG
NU Link shuttle poll results in
The poll posted on NU Link in late January gathering student feedback about a Saturday downtown Chicago shuttle was released yesterday at the Associated Student Government meeting.
The ASG external relations committee first took interest in creating a weekend downtown shuttle when the Student-Community Relations Taskforce met in the fall and believed there was a connection between excessive alcohol consumption and the lack of entertainment in Evanston. From its meeting with university services, the committee has found the cost per quarter to operate a Saturday shuttle for eight hours (from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. with a two-hour gap) to cost $6554.80. The committee expects 25 students to use the shuttle on a one-way trip, which would cost make the cost per passenger $3.28. This cost per trip is higher than using the El, and so the committee would like the university to contribute funding so students wouldn't have to pay more to use the proposed shuttle. The committee also wants to run a test pilot program as early as spring.
The following was taken from the report:
—ALICE TRUONG
The ASG external relations committee first took interest in creating a weekend downtown shuttle when the Student-Community Relations Taskforce met in the fall and believed there was a connection between excessive alcohol consumption and the lack of entertainment in Evanston. From its meeting with university services, the committee has found the cost per quarter to operate a Saturday shuttle for eight hours (from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. with a two-hour gap) to cost $6554.80. The committee expects 25 students to use the shuttle on a one-way trip, which would cost make the cost per passenger $3.28. This cost per trip is higher than using the El, and so the committee would like the university to contribute funding so students wouldn't have to pay more to use the proposed shuttle. The committee also wants to run a test pilot program as early as spring.
The following was taken from the report:
ASG is discussing whether or not operating an Intercampus Shuttle to Chicago on Saturdays would be beneficial for students. Currently, students wishing to visit Chicago on weekends must resort to other forms of public transportation, and in January the CTA is prepared to increase train fares for the El up to $3.25 per ride. Your responses to this short poll will help us decide if we should pursue operating an Intercampus on Saturdays.
2481 responses to the poll as of 2008-02-19 10:49.
- Would you use the intercampus if it were offered on Saturdays?
Yes - 98.47%
No - 1.53%- How many times a quarter do you go into Chicago on Saturday?
0 - 3.55%
1-2 - 23.98%
3-4 - 36.11%
5+ - 36.36%- How many times a quarter would you use a Saturday?
0 - 1.98%
1-2 - 13.74%
3-4 - 36.28%
5+ - 48%- Would you go into Chicago more often if it were offered on Saturdays?
Yes - 98.39%
No - 1.61%- Please check times for which you would like an inbound route (to Chicago):
12 pm - 80.13%
2 pm - 82.31%
4 pm - 77.27%
6 pm - 75.65%
8 pm - 62.19%
10 pm - 47%- Please check times for which you would like an outbound route (from Chicago):
1 pm - 36.44%
3 pm - 53.53%
5 pm - 73.4%
7 pm - 78.19%
9 pm - 84.04%
11 pm - 84.6%
1 am - 74.2%- What is the maximum you would be willing to pay per one-way ride?
$0 - 14.79%
$1 - 30.35%
$2 - 42.89%
$3+ - 10.8%- It is possible that a Saturday could stop at other Chicago locations besides the Ward Building. Please select the attractions in Chicago where you would like the bus to stop:
Navy Pier - 52.16%
Millenium Park - 76.62%
North Michigan Avenue (Water Tower) - 75.17%
South Michigan Avenue (Wrigley Building, Riverfront) - 45.55%
Museum Campus (Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium) - 66.38%
Other attractions: (write-in) - 11.21%
—ALICE TRUONG
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Saving $45,000: where ASG decided to cut and spend
The proposed ASG operating budget for this upcoming year has decreased by almost half of the current $88,000 budget, and senators will vote on it next week.
With the 2008-09 budget set at $43,000, the saved $45,000 will mean more money for student groups.
“Hopefully this will improve programming across campus,” Associated Student Government President Jon Webber said.
The largest decrease came from the removal of Associated Student Government student legal services, decreasing $35,000 from the budget, which was used to pay for the salary of the lawyer. The biggest expense in the upcoming budget is paying for ASG-related expenses for Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations, costing $20,000.
Webber, a Weinberg senior said that though the current 2007-08 budget is set at $88,000, only about $20,000 has been spent. Much of the savings also included scaling back the budget to what is actually used. For example, ASG allocated $6,000 to spend on copier maintenance for the current year, but Webber said the full amount wasn’t being used. The copier budget has been decreased to $3,500. The Senate retreat was scaled back from a couple thousand dollars to $500 because the retreat will remain on campus.
While many cuts were made in the upcoming budget, several increases were also made.
The fall activities fair’s budget was increased from $4,500 to $6,000 for next year because of increased student turnout and demand. A new “senate project pool” of $5,000 was created for the upcoming year.
“One of my biggest frustrations of the year is that I didn’t set my own budget,” Webber said. “I’m setting the budget for the next person.”
The pool will allow ASG president as well as executive board members and senators to access the funds so long as Senate approves a petition from the people requesting to spend the amount. Because the pool is new to ASG, the amount of money available is set to be small.
“It’s big enough to make a difference, but not big enough to be ridiculous,” he said. “It would allow them to have things on their priority list or agenda.”
Money that wouldn’t be used from the pool would be rolled back to the body. The $43,000 budget includes $1,200 for office supplies; $6,100 for capital technology, including copier maintenance; $9,200 for special events, including the fall and winter activities fairs; $1,500 for Student Activities Finance Board and the executive committee expenses; $20,000 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day programming and $5,000 for the senate project pool.
The following is the report sent out to senators:
—ALICE TRUONG
With the 2008-09 budget set at $43,000, the saved $45,000 will mean more money for student groups.
“Hopefully this will improve programming across campus,” Associated Student Government President Jon Webber said.
The largest decrease came from the removal of Associated Student Government student legal services, decreasing $35,000 from the budget, which was used to pay for the salary of the lawyer. The biggest expense in the upcoming budget is paying for ASG-related expenses for Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations, costing $20,000.
Webber, a Weinberg senior said that though the current 2007-08 budget is set at $88,000, only about $20,000 has been spent. Much of the savings also included scaling back the budget to what is actually used. For example, ASG allocated $6,000 to spend on copier maintenance for the current year, but Webber said the full amount wasn’t being used. The copier budget has been decreased to $3,500. The Senate retreat was scaled back from a couple thousand dollars to $500 because the retreat will remain on campus.
While many cuts were made in the upcoming budget, several increases were also made.
The fall activities fair’s budget was increased from $4,500 to $6,000 for next year because of increased student turnout and demand. A new “senate project pool” of $5,000 was created for the upcoming year.
“One of my biggest frustrations of the year is that I didn’t set my own budget,” Webber said. “I’m setting the budget for the next person.”
The pool will allow ASG president as well as executive board members and senators to access the funds so long as Senate approves a petition from the people requesting to spend the amount. Because the pool is new to ASG, the amount of money available is set to be small.
“It’s big enough to make a difference, but not big enough to be ridiculous,” he said. “It would allow them to have things on their priority list or agenda.”
Money that wouldn’t be used from the pool would be rolled back to the body. The $43,000 budget includes $1,200 for office supplies; $6,100 for capital technology, including copier maintenance; $9,200 for special events, including the fall and winter activities fairs; $1,500 for Student Activities Finance Board and the executive committee expenses; $20,000 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day programming and $5,000 for the senate project pool.
The following is the report sent out to senators:
2008-2009 ASG Operating Budget Total: $43,000
Office Supplies $1,200
This money will go toward general office supplies for the ASG office and does not include costs associated with the student group printer/copier or the office supplies for the Student Legal Services office. Items include staplers, pens, pencils, paper clips, binders, page protectors, tape, file folders, Post-its, white-out, three-hole puncher, scissors, etc.
Capital Technology $6,100
Copier $3,500
Included in this line item are any charges associated with the student group copier including monthly rental service, paper, toner, staples, and any charges for repairs and/or service calls. Additionally, this line item will cover any costs associated with copying materials at the copy center that are not included in the special events or marketing line items.
Technology $2,000
These funds are to be used for the purchase, maintenance, repair and service of ASG-owned technology equipment. This includes the fax machine, computers, telephone lines, software, printers, etc., but does not include the student group copier. Also includes any lockdown or antitheft measures for the technology.
Sight, Sound, and Seating $600
This line item is to be used for A/V and set up charges associated with Senate meetings, ASG election debates, ASG info sessions, and any other sort of town hall meetings. Any A/V and set up charges incurred for other events will come from the special events line item.
Special Events $9,200
Senate Retreat $500
This will be used to pay for any costs incurred for Senate retreat including venue charges, A/V charges, printing of senator handbooks, and binders for the event.
Fall Activities Fair $6000
This covers venue charges, tent rentals, A/V charges, room setup or other equipment fees, printing of material for handbooks, and any other necessary materials for the Fall Activities Fair.
Winter Activities Fair $500
This covers venue charges, A/V charges, room setup or other equipment fees, printing of material for handbooks, and any other necessary materials for the Winter Activities Fair.
LAB $2000
This covers venue charges, A/V charges, room setup or other equipment fees, printing of material for handbooks, name tags, and any other necessary materials for the Leadership Advisory Board.
Big Bite Nite $200
This money will cover any costs associated with Big Bite Nite including transportation costs, table rentals and any other supplies needed for the execution of the event.
SAFB/ Executive Committee Expenses $1,500
This line item is to be used for any expenses related to the operations of the SAFB/ Executive Committee including student group audits, account executive binders, funding cycle printed materials and annual review supplies. Also, includes costs for co-sponsorship forums.
Martin Luther King Day $20,000
This line item covers all ASG related expenses for the Martin Luther King Day Celebrations. This is specifically for honorariums traditionally requested in the spring term.
Senate Project Pool $5,000
This line will not be able to be used unless the ASG Senate approves a petition from the ASG President & Executive Board to spend a portion of the line for a project.
—ALICE TRUONG
New senator SAFB member
Weinberg junior Michael Hsu was appointed by Associated Student Government Financial Vice President Seva Rodnyansky, and the Senate confirmed him unanimously.
The event was not nearly as elaborate as when Rodnyansky was confirmed when Speaker of the Senate Jesse Garfinkel swore him in over a B-status funding guide earlier this month.
—ALICE TRUONG
The event was not nearly as elaborate as when Rodnyansky was confirmed when Speaker of the Senate Jesse Garfinkel swore him in over a B-status funding guide earlier this month.
—ALICE TRUONG
Noticeable changes for this week's meeting
Associated Student Government Senate Speaker Jesse Garfinkel is back behind the lectern. He was missing last week. He said it might have been a cold, it might have been scurvy. Who knows?
Behind the desk next to the lectern, James D'Angelo is sporting a new look. ASG has a balder, shinier clerk.
—ALICE TRUONG
Behind the desk next to the lectern, James D'Angelo is sporting a new look. ASG has a balder, shinier clerk.
—ALICE TRUONG
The leaner, meaner ASG budget
Treasurer Colin Pound has reported the operating budget for the Associated Student Government has been cut from $88,000 to $42,000 for 2008-09.
More to come.
—ALICE TRUONG
More to come.
—ALICE TRUONG
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Week 8's Senate agenda
Tomorrow's Associated Student government meeting will revisit a revised group executive accountability bill. The first form this bill was presented by Executive Vice President Matt Bogusz two weeks ago, but it was tabled. The second form was presented last week by three executive committee members, but debate was held off until the bill could be revised. That revised bill will be presented tomorrow.
Senators will also discuss senator accountability measures and there will be a discussion of increasing communication between constituents and senators.
—ALICE TRUONG
Senators will also discuss senator accountability measures and there will be a discussion of increasing communication between constituents and senators.
—ALICE TRUONG
UBPC recruits help of ASG committees
In tomorrow's Daily, you'll find in out a lot about how the Undergraduate Budget Priorities Committee will present its recommendations to some senior university administrators this Friday. Though results will not be disclosed until UBPC meets with the university budget committee, with members including President Henry Bienen, Vice President for Student Affairs Bill Banis and Vice President for Business and Finance Eugene Sunshine, the recommendations will help UBPC rank the recommedations.
UBPC, made up of six members, will present four recommendations: wireless Internet on campus, 24-hour study spaces, downtown Chicago Saturday shuttle and renovations to the ground floor of Norris University Center. These issues were gathered from an open December poll in which students listed services they would like to have at Northwestern. A more recent poll posted in early February asked students to rate what the four recommendations.
Several of the recommendations on the priorities list are issues that members of Associated Student Government have been working on themselves. For example, Kate Pascale's external relations committee has been working with university services to create a weekend downtown Chicago shuttle. The committee also put up a poll recently, asking students about what their usage of such a proposed shuttle would be like. UBPC chairwoman Jessica Wash said that she has been collaborating research with Pascale and the external relations committee, and the committee poll results were shared with UBPC.
ASG Academic Vice President Anna Xu's academic committee's wireless subcommittee has been working with Northwestern University Information Technology to see the feasibility of wireless. The results of a recent meeting with NUIT seem good, said Anna Xu who said it is her goal to have wireless in all the dorms by this upcoming Fall Quarter. The academic subcommittee has also worked with UBPC with its research. It has found that 58 percent, or 11, of 19 comparable (in terms of size and status) Consortium on Financing Higher Education institutions have wireless Internet in their dorm. NU falls in line with the eight universities that don't have wireless Internet in their dorms.
Wireless Internet has been a reoccurring UBPC recommendation since 2001, Wash said. Since then, the university has made certain steps toward a wireless campus with its first Virtual Private Network set up in 2002. Last year, students ranked wireless Internet first in the 2007 UBPC poll. Because wireless Internet was packaged with improving cell phone coverage, the university focused on the latter to increase communication options in wake of the Virginia Tech shooting in April.
The other two options include less involvement on the part of ASG members, although it should be noted that the ASG president is an honorary member in the committee, and the recently retired ASG financial vice president Aneesa Arshad is part of the committee as well.
Some interesting points to be made about the other two recommendations:
—ALICE TRUONG
UBPC, made up of six members, will present four recommendations: wireless Internet on campus, 24-hour study spaces, downtown Chicago Saturday shuttle and renovations to the ground floor of Norris University Center. These issues were gathered from an open December poll in which students listed services they would like to have at Northwestern. A more recent poll posted in early February asked students to rate what the four recommendations.
Several of the recommendations on the priorities list are issues that members of Associated Student Government have been working on themselves. For example, Kate Pascale's external relations committee has been working with university services to create a weekend downtown Chicago shuttle. The committee also put up a poll recently, asking students about what their usage of such a proposed shuttle would be like. UBPC chairwoman Jessica Wash said that she has been collaborating research with Pascale and the external relations committee, and the committee poll results were shared with UBPC.
ASG Academic Vice President Anna Xu's academic committee's wireless subcommittee has been working with Northwestern University Information Technology to see the feasibility of wireless. The results of a recent meeting with NUIT seem good, said Anna Xu who said it is her goal to have wireless in all the dorms by this upcoming Fall Quarter. The academic subcommittee has also worked with UBPC with its research. It has found that 58 percent, or 11, of 19 comparable (in terms of size and status) Consortium on Financing Higher Education institutions have wireless Internet in their dorm. NU falls in line with the eight universities that don't have wireless Internet in their dorms.
Wireless Internet has been a reoccurring UBPC recommendation since 2001, Wash said. Since then, the university has made certain steps toward a wireless campus with its first Virtual Private Network set up in 2002. Last year, students ranked wireless Internet first in the 2007 UBPC poll. Because wireless Internet was packaged with improving cell phone coverage, the university focused on the latter to increase communication options in wake of the Virginia Tech shooting in April.
The other two options include less involvement on the part of ASG members, although it should be noted that the ASG president is an honorary member in the committee, and the recently retired ASG financial vice president Aneesa Arshad is part of the committee as well.
Some interesting points to be made about the other two recommendations:
- In her report about Norris renovations, Arshad said the suggestion to change the ground floor can be traced back to the ASG president from 1984. A quote from last year stated that completely overhauling Norris with new furniture and a new kitchen area would cost $6 million to $8 million. To renovate the ground floor area that doesn't include the kitchen would cost about $2 million less. However, these numbers are a year old and vary with contractors, Arshad said.
- Of US News and World Report's list of national institutions, 18 of the top 20 universities have 24-hour spaces. NU is one of two that doesn't have such a space. A note to keep in mind is that during the Fall Quarter, library hours were extended after UBPC proposed the change last year. At the beginning of Winter Quarter, university and dining officials were thinking of scaling back the University Library's Plaza Cafe hours because not enough students were using them.
—ALICE TRUONG
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
The executive vice president's bill evolution
For once, the tension from recent ASG meetings didn't stem from battles over dollars and cents. Instead, the rift between Executive Vice President Matt Bogusz, his bill and his committee members was the source of contention.
"I wouldn't call it tension, I would call it love," the Weinberg junior said.
A newly submitted group executive accountability bill sponsored by four executive committee members will be further amended next week. It will be the third week in a row the senate will discuss accountability of its group executives, or members of the executive committee who oversee and audit student groups.
Bogusz presented a similar bill last week that proposed quarterly evaluations of executives to allow senators to make an informed decision when electing members to the executive committee.
“The only power I have as executive vice president to remove someone from committee comes if a committee member doesn’t show up to two meetings,” Bogusz said when presenting the bill in the Feb. 13 Senate meeting. “If I have the worst group executive in the whole wide world, and they show up to every meeting, nothing can be done.”
Although the bill would not give Bogusz the power to remove members, Bogusz said his bill would give student groups, who will make these evaluations, their "check" to the Associated Student Government. The new bill, submitted by Weinberg freshmen Jonathan Green and Claire Lew, Weinberg sophomore Patrick Dawson and Weinberg senior Steve Gorodetskiy supports creating such evaluations but changes the structure of Bogusz's original bill.
Although both bills try to increase the transparency of group executives, the two bear striking differences. It was these differences that split members of Bogusz’s executive committee; many of them argued for the tabling of Bogusz’s bill, four of whom presented the new one Wednesday night.
The bill’s differences rest in reviewers' anonymity and whether such evaluations should be mandatory.
Senate members, including executive committee members, criticized the degree of anonymity provided in Bogusz’s bill.
With his bill, evaluations would be anonymous in such a way that individuals who completed the evaluations would not be identified. However, the student group’s name would be attached to the evaluation. Senators pointed out that evaluations would only be sent to group presidents and treasurers, which could potentially identify the person providing the evaluation.
The new bill's text says the process is "completely anonymous" with neither the individual nor student group's name will be visible on the evaluation itself in order to "honestly evaluate the service that (the) Group Executive has provided."
The other criticism of Bogusz's bill was that such evaluations would not be compulsory. Although Bogusz later said he would be open to amending the bill to make the evaluation mandatory, he said the evaluations should serve more as a tool than an obligation.
"In my experience, things that are mandatory don't go over very well," he said. "Making things mandatory makes people angry and resentful."
The new bill would mandate all student groups to complete such evaluations although no consequences were laid out in the bill for student groups that default on submitting the evaluations.
"We're trying to maximize transparency," said Lew, one of the bill's presenters.
—ALICE TRUONG
"I wouldn't call it tension, I would call it love," the Weinberg junior said.
A newly submitted group executive accountability bill sponsored by four executive committee members will be further amended next week. It will be the third week in a row the senate will discuss accountability of its group executives, or members of the executive committee who oversee and audit student groups.
Bogusz presented a similar bill last week that proposed quarterly evaluations of executives to allow senators to make an informed decision when electing members to the executive committee.
“The only power I have as executive vice president to remove someone from committee comes if a committee member doesn’t show up to two meetings,” Bogusz said when presenting the bill in the Feb. 13 Senate meeting. “If I have the worst group executive in the whole wide world, and they show up to every meeting, nothing can be done.”
Although the bill would not give Bogusz the power to remove members, Bogusz said his bill would give student groups, who will make these evaluations, their "check" to the Associated Student Government. The new bill, submitted by Weinberg freshmen Jonathan Green and Claire Lew, Weinberg sophomore Patrick Dawson and Weinberg senior Steve Gorodetskiy supports creating such evaluations but changes the structure of Bogusz's original bill.
Although both bills try to increase the transparency of group executives, the two bear striking differences. It was these differences that split members of Bogusz’s executive committee; many of them argued for the tabling of Bogusz’s bill, four of whom presented the new one Wednesday night.
The bill’s differences rest in reviewers' anonymity and whether such evaluations should be mandatory.
Senate members, including executive committee members, criticized the degree of anonymity provided in Bogusz’s bill.
With his bill, evaluations would be anonymous in such a way that individuals who completed the evaluations would not be identified. However, the student group’s name would be attached to the evaluation. Senators pointed out that evaluations would only be sent to group presidents and treasurers, which could potentially identify the person providing the evaluation.
The new bill's text says the process is "completely anonymous" with neither the individual nor student group's name will be visible on the evaluation itself in order to "honestly evaluate the service that (the) Group Executive has provided."
The other criticism of Bogusz's bill was that such evaluations would not be compulsory. Although Bogusz later said he would be open to amending the bill to make the evaluation mandatory, he said the evaluations should serve more as a tool than an obligation.
"In my experience, things that are mandatory don't go over very well," he said. "Making things mandatory makes people angry and resentful."
The new bill would mandate all student groups to complete such evaluations although no consequences were laid out in the bill for student groups that default on submitting the evaluations.
"We're trying to maximize transparency," said Lew, one of the bill's presenters.
—ALICE TRUONG
Distracting Macbook Air
A good chunk of the left side of the room is completely distracted with a Macbook Air. Meanwhile, the right side of the room is talking about the newly submitted group executive accountability bill, similar to the one Executive Vice President Matt Bogusz submitted last week. Bogusz's bill was tabled.
—ALICE TRUONG
Monday, February 18, 2008
Still confused about SAFB?
As one of Aneesa Arshad's — now accomplished — goals, the Student Activities Finance Board has its Web site up and running. In its frequently asked questions section, among other sections, it explains the intricate processes of SAFB.
The Web site can be found linked from the Associated Student Government Web site. Its URL is http://groups.northwestern.edu/safb/.
—ALICE TRUONG
The arm of ASG some hope to change
Aneesa Arshad held one of the most – if not the most – powerful student positions on campus.
As the former Associated Student Government financial vice president, the SESP senior oversaw a board that doled out about $1.2 million to student groups last spring.
Last Wednesday, her reign came to an end.
“I’ve learned a lot,” she said to the Senate as the outgoing financial vice president. “It’s sad to go, but change is good.”
Yet questions loom as to what change will come in Arshad’s place.
The change starts with her successor, Weinberg junior Seva Rodnyansky who is making sure the Student Activities Finance Board will be ready for spring funding.
Right now, Rodnyansky is working on transitioning to the position. Despite having been part of the board since Fall Quarter during his freshman year, he said “there’s always more to learn because it’s a constantly evolving process.”
And if ASG President Jon Webber has his way, the funding process could change more than anyone in SAFB would expect.
Weeks before B-status group funding took place Feb. 13, the Weinberg senior was already thinking of ways to change spring funding for A-status groups which in a time-honored tradition has kept tired senators and student group leaders in a cramped Norris room for many hours.
The board oversees funding for A-status groups, on-campus groups that are typically more established and require more funding. It prepares for the largest event of the year with a set of recommendations in a 60-hour auditing and interviewing process. During the process and throughout the year, the board follows a strict protocol of monthly audits, weekly petition and numerous applications. Some see this process as too rigid, but SAFB members say this is crucial for student group accountability. The board is responsible for the $44 student activities fee every student pays each quarter.
“At the end of the day, this is students’ money,” Arshad said. “And if there weren’t so many rules and procedures, I think people would feel nervous that every cent isn’t being held accountable.”
Webber has yet to announce the funding changes, pending further discussion with Rodnyansky, who has held the office of financial vice president for less than a week now. Webber has talked to over 20 A-status groups’ leaders and compiled pages upon pages of notes in a Word document. He said there are emerging themes from these complaints and suggestions that could potentially alter, or even encourage a major overhaul of, the process, the protocol and the institution.
With an arm of ASG that is potentially more powerful than the body itself, compiled of six senators and six non-senators, there is a sense of division and friction. Members of the board go into Senate meetings, dressed like career-oriented men and women, occupying a corner of the room and focused on their laptops. But the greatest tension stems from who has the final say at the end of funding.
Senators, who act as a check to the board by debating the funding recommendations, have an amendment pool of about $20,000 during spring funding that they can allocate to the student groups. But most the time, senators pass almost all of the recommendations.
“This is one of the most important things that Senate does,” Arshad said. “And there’s a little bit of tension because (funding) is something that’s supposed to be ultimately up to the senators, but because we put so much time and have so much knowledge (having audited these groups), we actually – I think a lot of people would agree – have more power in the process.”
Even within the board, with members who might be friends, debates are heated.
“At committee, we go at each other 10 times more than people go at each other in Senate,” Arshad said. “We tear each other apart.”
But there are no hard feelings – such debate is crucial to the board’s effectiveness, Arshad said.
“If we’re not debating, and we don’t really disagree, then we’re not doing our job,” she said.
This is all before they make their recommendations. These internal divisions don't make a difference when recommendations are finalized. When the board presents the funding recommendations, it presents them as one board.
Relations between the board and student groups most obviously become strained during the funding process because “there’s never enough money to go around,” Arshad said.
Unhappy groups can mobilize and bring a number of members to the Senate meeting to debate funding. While a group might try to get the largest slice from the senate’s discretionary pie, Arshad said outsiders’ presence sometimes signals student group disapproval of the board.
As the newest financial vice president, Rodnyansky is face of SAFB. Even though he has his own set of goals to bring in change, he, like Arshad did, will face difficulties – not from outsiders, but from the position itself. It’s a difficulty that Webber, in his quest to change the board, will have to deal with as well.
“Each financial vice president has goals … But it’s just so overwhelming the things you have to do day to day,” Arshad said. “There are things I wanted to do that I couldn’t.”
—ALICE TRUONG
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Jam packed ASG meeting in summary
Today's Senate meeting was surprising.
So surprising that Associate Student Government Senate Speaker Jesse Garfinkel called it smooth, a word many wouldn't expect to characterize a Senate meeting with a packed agenda: financial vice president confirmation, B-status funding allocating about $28,000 and two bills — as most bills — dealing with complex issues.
Ultimately, the meeting could be summed into five votes:
- Seva Rodnyansky was unanimously confirmed as the new financial vice president — sworn in with a not-so-elaborate ceremony with one hand in the air and the other on a B-status funding packet.
- Flicker was de-recognized, with 60 percent of the votes concurring with the committee decision.
- Brown Sugar was denied its $100 request with 77 percent of votes.
- The group executive accountability bill was motioned with 71 percent of the votes.
- The Northwestern Gender Protection Initiative bill was passed with 80 percent in favor.
Of course, for more details and analysis, look back at the blog entries.
—ALICE TRUONG
Why B-Status funding was so painless this year
ANALYSIS
B-status funding flew by this year, with only one debate concerning Brown Sugar occurring throughout the entire process which lasted less than 30 minutes. Student group leaders for the most part sat in their chairs complacently, neither motioning for more money for their student groups nor disagreeing with the Executive Committee's funding recommendations for other groups.
"Funding went smoothly and I'd like to think that was Executive Committee's ability to meet with student groups and get their reasoning before the meeting," said ASG Speaker Jesse Garfinkel.
On the whole, Weinberg sophomore Garfinkel is probably right. But besides the conclusion that student groups were largely satisfied with the Executive Committee's funding recommendations and their reasoned collaboration with student groups staved off funding battles between student groups, the structure of B-status funding allows for this funding cycle, unlike A-status funding cycles in the Fall and Spring quarters, to be fairly painless for senators and group leaders (and Daily bloggers) to sit through.
Executive Committee must allocate every penny of their funding pool ($21,480.80 this year) in their recommendation. In contrast, the Student Activities Finance Board, which oversees A-status group funding, cannot recommend all of their funds because of a senate amendment pool which ASG senators can allocate at their own discretion. This extra money forces senators and student group leaders to debate over where this extra money should be allocated. This can get sticky.
In addition, there is more money at stake under A-status funding, with SAFB allocating nearly a million dollars to about 40 A-status groups . This increased funding pool coupled with fewer student groups to allocate this money to complicates the funding process. You can already see the questions forming in student group leaders' heads. Who's getting the most money? Why can't we as a student group siphon off some of their money for our cause? Enter debate here.
On the other hand, B-status student groups have only a quarter of the funds A-status groups have. This is primarily due to the lower operating cost of these B-status student groups. Performances need a couple thousand dollars to put on, as opposed to the A-status student groups which must spend tens of thousands of dollars to bring speakers and put on massive events. This makes it kind of pointless for small student groups to fight other small, cash-strapped student groups for more funding. It's just too mean to do otherwise.
Furthermore, some of the B-status student groups are new or still acclimating to ASG funding. Many newly recognized groups that have been bumped from T-status to B-status, and groups with only a few years of development under their belts do not feel like they have enough clout or the group membership to fight for more money.
Other B-status groups may be intimidated by the complexities surrounding the bureaucracy of ASG and their funding methods. The "newbie effect" affecting some student groups makes them complacent to Executive Committee's funding recommendations. And perhaps some groups are not fully aware of all of the ASG's funding guidelines either, as four student groups failed to meet funding guidelines this year and were docked because of it.
It's difficult to allocate funds to student groups. Funding guidelines were created to maintain fiscal responsibility to the students who pay for these student groups. In addition, ASG must broker compromises between student groups so that everyone gets a portion of the pie. This is all a complicated process, and the fact that there was only one dissension this year cannot be wholly attributed to the Executive Committee's prowess.
There are many factors at play here.
-Paul Takahashi, veteran ASG reporter
B-status funding flew by this year, with only one debate concerning Brown Sugar occurring throughout the entire process which lasted less than 30 minutes. Student group leaders for the most part sat in their chairs complacently, neither motioning for more money for their student groups nor disagreeing with the Executive Committee's funding recommendations for other groups.
"Funding went smoothly and I'd like to think that was Executive Committee's ability to meet with student groups and get their reasoning before the meeting," said ASG Speaker Jesse Garfinkel.
On the whole, Weinberg sophomore Garfinkel is probably right. But besides the conclusion that student groups were largely satisfied with the Executive Committee's funding recommendations and their reasoned collaboration with student groups staved off funding battles between student groups, the structure of B-status funding allows for this funding cycle, unlike A-status funding cycles in the Fall and Spring quarters, to be fairly painless for senators and group leaders (and Daily bloggers) to sit through.
Executive Committee must allocate every penny of their funding pool ($21,480.80 this year) in their recommendation. In contrast, the Student Activities Finance Board, which oversees A-status group funding, cannot recommend all of their funds because of a senate amendment pool which ASG senators can allocate at their own discretion. This extra money forces senators and student group leaders to debate over where this extra money should be allocated. This can get sticky.
In addition, there is more money at stake under A-status funding, with SAFB allocating nearly a million dollars to about 40 A-status groups . This increased funding pool coupled with fewer student groups to allocate this money to complicates the funding process. You can already see the questions forming in student group leaders' heads. Who's getting the most money? Why can't we as a student group siphon off some of their money for our cause? Enter debate here.
On the other hand, B-status student groups have only a quarter of the funds A-status groups have. This is primarily due to the lower operating cost of these B-status student groups. Performances need a couple thousand dollars to put on, as opposed to the A-status student groups which must spend tens of thousands of dollars to bring speakers and put on massive events. This makes it kind of pointless for small student groups to fight other small, cash-strapped student groups for more funding. It's just too mean to do otherwise.
Furthermore, some of the B-status student groups are new or still acclimating to ASG funding. Many newly recognized groups that have been bumped from T-status to B-status, and groups with only a few years of development under their belts do not feel like they have enough clout or the group membership to fight for more money.
Other B-status groups may be intimidated by the complexities surrounding the bureaucracy of ASG and their funding methods. The "newbie effect" affecting some student groups makes them complacent to Executive Committee's funding recommendations. And perhaps some groups are not fully aware of all of the ASG's funding guidelines either, as four student groups failed to meet funding guidelines this year and were docked because of it.
It's difficult to allocate funds to student groups. Funding guidelines were created to maintain fiscal responsibility to the students who pay for these student groups. In addition, ASG must broker compromises between student groups so that everyone gets a portion of the pie. This is all a complicated process, and the fact that there was only one dissension this year cannot be wholly attributed to the Executive Committee's prowess.
There are many factors at play here.
-Paul Takahashi, veteran ASG reporter
Gender Initiative bill passed
The Northwestern Gender Protection Initiative's bill asking for Associated Student Government Jon Webber and the ASG executive board members to lobby the university administration for its key issues passed with 70 percent tonight.
According to members of the initiative, of the top 15 nationally ranked universities, NU is one of three to not include a gender protection clause in its non-discrimination policy. The initiative hopes to include gender identity and expression in the university non-discrimination policy.
With the bill, ASG will lobby university administration to amend the policy to include these aspects as well as examine logistical concerns, such as gender-neutral on-campus residences and bathrooms.
Debate centered largely on issues initiative member McCormick junior Mykell Miller considered irrelevant.
Some ASG members, such as Weinberg freshman Jonathan Green and Communication junior James D'Angelo, thought that it was contradictory to add a particular group to a non-discrimination policy.
Part of the debate was also dedicated to the definition of gender identity, with some mistaking it for sexual orientation.
For D'Angelo, he didn't think there was discrimination on campus based on gender identity.
"I've never wanted any student to feel uncomfortable," the ASG clerk said. "I'm not convinced there's been any wrongdoing thus far."
Members of the initiative who presented the bill — Rainbow Co-President Kelsey Pacha, Rainbow Senator Patrick Dawson and Miller — were appalled at his statement.
Miller said students who identify themselves with a different gender identity do suffer from discrimination. He knows it personally.
He was forced to live in an all-female suite during his freshman year. His Wildcard still has his legal name even though he goes by Mykell.
The initiative is currently working on discussing logistical issues with residential life. It hopes to create a suite, wing or floor converted to gender-neutral housing in two dorms: one on North Campus and one on South Campus. The initiative also is hoping to create single stall, gender-neutral restrooms. About 40 percent of restrooms would be all-male and 40 percent all-female.
—ALICE TRUONG
Group executive accountability bill tabled
The bill Executive Vice President Matt Bogusz presented to increase group executive accountability has been tabled.
In order to bring it back up, a three-fourth Senate vote will be needed earliest by next week or a new bill can be submitted.
The Weinberg junior's bill would create an evaluation system on group executives, but many senators said the bill's details need to be worked out before it can be passed.
"You don't know who the executive vice president will be in five years," Bogusz said. "Frankly, it's the Senate's committee, not the executive vice president's committee."
The bill would create a quarterly evaluation by student groups using a form that many senators would like to see changed.
Weinberg freshman Jonathan Green who is part of Bogusz' executive committee motioned to table the bill because he said the form that would be used is not representative and would not be anonymous. The form was sent to student group presidents and treasurers. The group would be known to the group executive but not the individual members, Bogusz said.
Under current guidelines, the executive vice president cannot remove members under any condition other than the members missing two meetings.
"If I have the worst group executive in the whole wide world, and they show up to every meeting, nothing can be done," Bogusz said.
"There's a possibility a group executive might get a bad rating," he said. "That's not the intent of the legislation. This piece of legislation should be used as a tool by an incumbent to say, 'This is why you should elect me.' "
Weinberg junior Will Upton said that while he thinks the bill is a good idea, he thinks the bill's details need to be straighted out.
"I haven't a heard a single thing about this," the off-campus senator said. "I'd like to see more discussion of this outside of Senate. I'd like to have some more input by the executive committee."
—ALICE TRUONG
In order to bring it back up, a three-fourth Senate vote will be needed earliest by next week or a new bill can be submitted.
The Weinberg junior's bill would create an evaluation system on group executives, but many senators said the bill's details need to be worked out before it can be passed.
"You don't know who the executive vice president will be in five years," Bogusz said. "Frankly, it's the Senate's committee, not the executive vice president's committee."
The bill would create a quarterly evaluation by student groups using a form that many senators would like to see changed.
Weinberg freshman Jonathan Green who is part of Bogusz' executive committee motioned to table the bill because he said the form that would be used is not representative and would not be anonymous. The form was sent to student group presidents and treasurers. The group would be known to the group executive but not the individual members, Bogusz said.
Under current guidelines, the executive vice president cannot remove members under any condition other than the members missing two meetings.
"If I have the worst group executive in the whole wide world, and they show up to every meeting, nothing can be done," Bogusz said.
"There's a possibility a group executive might get a bad rating," he said. "That's not the intent of the legislation. This piece of legislation should be used as a tool by an incumbent to say, 'This is why you should elect me.' "
Weinberg junior Will Upton said that while he thinks the bill is a good idea, he thinks the bill's details need to be straighted out.
"I haven't a heard a single thing about this," the off-campus senator said. "I'd like to see more discussion of this outside of Senate. I'd like to have some more input by the executive committee."
—ALICE TRUONG
Funding passed, no recommendations changed
And the room has cleared out. The once-filled room forcing some students to sit on the floor is now half empty.
Funding has been approved at 7:55 p.m. No recommendations have been changed.
—ALICE TRUONG
Funding has been approved at 7:55 p.m. No recommendations have been changed.
—ALICE TRUONG
Motion to add money to Brown Sugar failed
The South Asian Student Alliance senator requested on behalf of Brown Sugar to add $100 to the group's recommended amount of $0, midway through the add round.
Sighs and growns emanated from the back row of senate, signaling student group leaders' discontent at the debate that will ensue. Brown Sugar requested $460, but were recommended $0 by the Executive Committee.
SASA senator Sheena Agarwal, a Weinberg sophomore, defended Brown Sugar, saying "(the Executive Commitee's recommendation) was unfair" because of a "miscommunication" between the group's leader and the Executive Committee.
Executive Vice President Matt Bogusz disagreed with the representative's reasoning.
"Brown Sugar did not meet with their group executive," said Executive Vice President Matt Bogusz. This, he said, violated the committee's guidelines, which required Brown Sugar's leaders to meet with their group executive.
The motion to add more money to Brown Sugar was shut down by ASG. This motion was the first and only one during the extremely short funding cycle, which means the student groups were by in large content with the Executive Committee's recommendations.
-Paul Takahashi
Sighs and growns emanated from the back row of senate, signaling student group leaders' discontent at the debate that will ensue. Brown Sugar requested $460, but were recommended $0 by the Executive Committee.
SASA senator Sheena Agarwal, a Weinberg sophomore, defended Brown Sugar, saying "(the Executive Commitee's recommendation) was unfair" because of a "miscommunication" between the group's leader and the Executive Committee.
Executive Vice President Matt Bogusz disagreed with the representative's reasoning.
"Brown Sugar did not meet with their group executive," said Executive Vice President Matt Bogusz. This, he said, violated the committee's guidelines, which required Brown Sugar's leaders to meet with their group executive.
The motion to add more money to Brown Sugar was shut down by ASG. This motion was the first and only one during the extremely short funding cycle, which means the student groups were by in large content with the Executive Committee's recommendations.
-Paul Takahashi
No motions to cut in first round
First round of funding starts with cuts made to recommendations.
With the exception of a question about Significant Others' recommendation being larger than what the group requested, no student leader or senator has requested any group's funding to be reduced.
ASG Speaker Jesse Garfinkel asked why Significant Others' recommendation of $315 exceeded its requested $300. The group requested $50 for publicity, and the executive committee recommended $65 because of a standardized rate for publicity funds.
—ALICE TRUONG
With the exception of a question about Significant Others' recommendation being larger than what the group requested, no student leader or senator has requested any group's funding to be reduced.
ASG Speaker Jesse Garfinkel asked why Significant Others' recommendation of $315 exceeded its requested $300. The group requested $50 for publicity, and the executive committee recommended $65 because of a standardized rate for publicity funds.
—ALICE TRUONG
How B-Status funding works
Steps: Executive Committee received funding petitions from student groups, met with each group and made recommendations based on their audits and Executive Committee member's oversight of the group. The committee then recorded their recommendations in their funding packet, which both senators and student group leaders reviewed before this ASG meeting.
Tonight, student group leaders can appeal the Executive Committee's recommendations. If they request for more money, funds must be taken away from another student group. The senate will vote on each add (motion to add more money than the recommended amount) or cut round (motion to decrease the amount of funds awarded to a group). Debate over these funding changes will ensue, which will ultimately be decided by a senate vote. All in all, it's a long process.
-Paul Takahashi
Tonight, student group leaders can appeal the Executive Committee's recommendations. If they request for more money, funds must be taken away from another student group. The senate will vote on each add (motion to add more money than the recommended amount) or cut round (motion to decrease the amount of funds awarded to a group). Debate over these funding changes will ensue, which will ultimately be decided by a senate vote. All in all, it's a long process.
-Paul Takahashi
Motion to rearrange orders of business failed
SESP senior Ivy LeTourneau motioned to change the order of business to bring the two bills — group executive accountability and gender protection — in front of B-status funding. A vote of two-thirds of the Senate would be needed. The motion failed.
LeTourneau said it would be better to change the order of business because in previous years business after funding "kind of just gets shoved through and not properly considered."
Executive Vice President Matt Bogusz asked for a show of hands to see how many student group leaders were there to "protect student funding."
With one of the busiest meeting of the year, a substantial amount of hands went up.
"It was set to be first on the docket," the Weinberg junior said. "We hope to make a quick process ... Student groups are just waiting to talk about funding."
—ALICE TRUONG
LeTourneau said it would be better to change the order of business because in previous years business after funding "kind of just gets shoved through and not properly considered."
Executive Vice President Matt Bogusz asked for a show of hands to see how many student group leaders were there to "protect student funding."
With one of the busiest meeting of the year, a substantial amount of hands went up.
"It was set to be first on the docket," the Weinberg junior said. "We hope to make a quick process ... Student groups are just waiting to talk about funding."
—ALICE TRUONG
Flicker Film Festival derecognition appeal failed
ASG voted against an appeal by Flicker Film group to overturn Student Activities Finance Board's decision to derecognize the group.
The Flicker Film student group has been derecognized by the SAFB and is appealing the decision tonight. SAFB's allocation of $8,700 to Flicker hinged on ASG's vote tonight.
"We have nothing against the student group, it's definitely of merit on campus," outgoing FVP Aneesa Arshad said. "But they failed this year and last year in fulfilling their A-Status responsibilities."
The group's president, Muindi Muindi, said he failed to turn in their application, resulting in their account with SAFB to be frozen.
"It's my fault," he said.
Habitat for Humanity and Students Blood Services are examples of other student groups which were de-recognized by ASG over the last two years.
-Paul Takahashi
The Flicker Film student group has been derecognized by the SAFB and is appealing the decision tonight. SAFB's allocation of $8,700 to Flicker hinged on ASG's vote tonight.
"We have nothing against the student group, it's definitely of merit on campus," outgoing FVP Aneesa Arshad said. "But they failed this year and last year in fulfilling their A-Status responsibilities."
The group's president, Muindi Muindi, said he failed to turn in their application, resulting in their account with SAFB to be frozen.
"It's my fault," he said.
Habitat for Humanity and Students Blood Services are examples of other student groups which were de-recognized by ASG over the last two years.
-Paul Takahashi
New FVP sworn in
Weinberg junior Seva Rodnyansky has been confirmed as the new Associated Student Government financial vice president.
In an impromptu ceremony in a filled ASG meeting of senators and student group members, Senate Speaker Jesse Garfinkel swore in the new financial vice president over the B-status funding recommendations packet.
"I want to thank Senate, ASG exec, my board for making this a pleasurable experience," current Financial Vice President Aneesa Arshad said. "I've learned a lot. It's sad to go, but change is good."
Today's meeting is the last session the SESP senior will act as financial vice president.
—ALICE TRUONG
In an impromptu ceremony in a filled ASG meeting of senators and student group members, Senate Speaker Jesse Garfinkel swore in the new financial vice president over the B-status funding recommendations packet.
"I want to thank Senate, ASG exec, my board for making this a pleasurable experience," current Financial Vice President Aneesa Arshad said. "I've learned a lot. It's sad to go, but change is good."
Today's meeting is the last session the SESP senior will act as financial vice president.
—ALICE TRUONG
B-Status Funding meeting begins
Ten minutes past 7 p.m., the Associated Student Government Speaker Jesse Garfinkel calls the ASG senate meeting to order through the screechy mic. Executive Committee's funding of about 42 B-status student groups will dominate much of the meeting, and it shows in the incredible number of student group leaders and senators crammed in the meeting room at Norris tonight.
The second annual B-Status group funding is organized by the Executive Committee, headed by Executive Vice President, Matt Bogusz. This funding cycle, which always occurs during the Winter Quarter, will fund groups that are less established or can carry their activities without much help from ASG.
-Paul Takahashi
The second annual B-Status group funding is organized by the Executive Committee, headed by Executive Vice President, Matt Bogusz. This funding cycle, which always occurs during the Winter Quarter, will fund groups that are less established or can carry their activities without much help from ASG.
-Paul Takahashi
B-status funding in less than 5 hours
At tonight's Associated Student Government meeting starting at 7 p.m., the scheduled agenda for last week will ensue today. Last week's Senate, along with evening classes, was cancelled because of weather conditions.
This will be a big event. Last year's Daily ASG beat reporter Paul Takahashi will join me to live blog the entire meeting. Check back the blog for more details in a couple hours.
—ALICE TRUONG
Monday, February 11, 2008
Plaza Cafe hours still intact, possible airport shuttles, publicity guidelines re-evaluated
When Plaza Cafe's extended hours weren't used enough by students last quarter, its hours were almost pushed back to midnight.
After Associated Student Government President Jon Webber met with officials from university dining services, they decided to keep the hours open for another quarter. The library cafe's hours were extended to 2 a.m. Sunday to Thursday for the first time during Fall Quarter because of ASG lobbying.
"It's been a long priority of ASG to keep library hours extended very late," the Weinberg senior said.
In the Student-Community Relations Task Force report that was released last month, the task force identified the creation of "third spaces," or space for students to socialize during late-night weekends, as a priority. The current Undergraduate Budget Priorities Committee also lists 24-hour study spaces as a possible recommendation.
"We are trying to do everything we can to make sure library hours are utilized, so hours aren't shortened," Webber said.
As a part of the extended- hours agreement, ASG publicized the cafe hours through listserv e-mails last week.
The cafe was deemed to have low usage last quarter by the number of register transactions, Webber said. The hours for the cafe will be re-evaluated at the end of the quarter.
Webber is also talking with University Services about the feasibility of creating a shuttle before and after breaks to transport students to the airport. If established, the shuttle would probably run the last two days of the quarter and the day before classes started, he said.
The ASG executive board has also been working with University Services about a possible weekend Chicago shuttle. The committee is polling student support for the proposal on NU Link, asking students when they'd like the shuttle to run, how much they'd be willing to pay and what shuttle stops they would use in downtown Chicago.
In addition, ASG and university officials will re-evaluate publicity guidelines on campus. Webber said he has gathered feedback from about 40 student group leaders through an e-mail questionnaire about how they publicize events and what they'd like to see.
"We're taking a look at how successful current methods are," he said.
After Associated Student Government President Jon Webber met with officials from university dining services, they decided to keep the hours open for another quarter. The library cafe's hours were extended to 2 a.m. Sunday to Thursday for the first time during Fall Quarter because of ASG lobbying.
"It's been a long priority of ASG to keep library hours extended very late," the Weinberg senior said.
In the Student-Community Relations Task Force report that was released last month, the task force identified the creation of "third spaces," or space for students to socialize during late-night weekends, as a priority. The current Undergraduate Budget Priorities Committee also lists 24-hour study spaces as a possible recommendation.
"We are trying to do everything we can to make sure library hours are utilized, so hours aren't shortened," Webber said.
As a part of the extended- hours agreement, ASG publicized the cafe hours through listserv e-mails last week.
The cafe was deemed to have low usage last quarter by the number of register transactions, Webber said. The hours for the cafe will be re-evaluated at the end of the quarter.
Webber is also talking with University Services about the feasibility of creating a shuttle before and after breaks to transport students to the airport. If established, the shuttle would probably run the last two days of the quarter and the day before classes started, he said.
The ASG executive board has also been working with University Services about a possible weekend Chicago shuttle. The committee is polling student support for the proposal on NU Link, asking students when they'd like the shuttle to run, how much they'd be willing to pay and what shuttle stops they would use in downtown Chicago.
In addition, ASG and university officials will re-evaluate publicity guidelines on campus. Webber said he has gathered feedback from about 40 student group leaders through an e-mail questionnaire about how they publicize events and what they'd like to see.
"We're taking a look at how successful current methods are," he said.
—ALICE TRUONG
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Two applications for financial vice president
According to current SESP senior Aneesa Arshad, Associated Government financial vice president, she has received two applications for the FVP position. Arshad will chair the selection committee as a nonvoting member (except in the event of a tie).
There are six voting members in the committee: ASG president, speaker of senate, Student Activities Finance Board advisor, most veteran senator member of SAFB, most veteran non-senator member of SAFB and a senator elected from the Senate.
—ALICE TRUONG
ASG meeting cancelled due to weather
The drama of B-status funding will have to wait another week.
Associated Student Government Senate is cancelled, along with evening classes, because of the weather. The winter storm has already left 1,000 flights stranded at O'Hare Airport and could bring as much as a foot of snow, the Chicago Tribune reported.
ASG President Jon Webber said the meeting was postponed to avoid low turnout for B-status group members who would've shown up at the meeting to debate funding.
Other items on the agenda were two bills, one concerning Northwestern's non-discrimination policy and the other about group executive accountability.
—ALICE TRUONG
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Preview for Feb. 6 ASG meeting
Tomorrow is the start of B-status group funding. The Daily will be live-blogging the event, so check out the latest news as it breaks tomorrow, starting at 7 p.m.
In addition to funding, two bills introduced at last week’s meeting will go to floor.
—ALICE TRUONG
In addition to funding, two bills introduced at last week’s meeting will go to floor.
- Protecting Gender at NU aims to change the university’s non-discrimination policy.
- Group Executive Accountability aims to conduct quarterly evaluations of group executives that work with B- and T- status groups.
—ALICE TRUONG
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Financial vice president application due Wednesday
The deadline for the financial vice president application is fast approaching. All those interested should e-mail their applications by Wednesday, Feb. 6 to current Financial Vice President Aneesa Arshad, who will be the chairwoman of the selection committee.
SESP junior Neal Sales-Griffin was recently elected to the selection committee as a member of the Senate on Wednesday's meeting, saying he was looking for someone passionate best for the job.
As of Wednesday evening, Arshad said she has not received any applications for the position, which was in charge of funding more than $900,000 to 44 A-status student groups this past Spring Quarter. Arshad said she expects a minimum of two applications based on the inquiries she has received.
More to come on The Daily print edition soon.
—ALICE TRUONG
The 36 things ASG executive board members hope to accomplish this winter
In an attempt to make Associated Student Government more accountable, ASG President Jon Webber announced at the beginning of the quarter that each executive board member would have three (more or less) goals to work on for Winter Quarter.
The Weinberg senior said that while he hopes to see all these goals met, he also understands that certain executive board members might have a harder time meeting their goals depending on the difficulty of the project as well as other responsibilities the member has.
The following is a list of their goals taken from the second meeting's agenda. You can see that some of these things have been consistently brought up in Senate meetings and others are worked on more quietly. Regardless, there are 36 different goals here they all hope to meet.
President Jon Webber
- Write and present campus programming board proposal
- Follow up on recommendations from Community Relations Task Force
- Be constantly available to executive members on helping with goals
Executive Vice President Matt Bogusz
- B-status funding
- Guideline review
- Annual review
- Group executive quarterly performance review
- Norris space evaluation
- Promote investment in shared resources
Financial Vice President Aneesha Arshad:
- Launch new Student Activities Finance Board
- Annual Review
- Financial vice president selection/ smooth transition
Student Services Vice President Nate West
- Business guide
- Off-campus Munch Money
- "Finish shuttle stuff" (This probably includes reliability, ghost ride program, etc.)
- Light walk
Parliamentarian Jack Eichorst
- Get roster to 49; head audit of senate seat allocation group
- Crack down on attendance; announce attendance weekly
- Everything from this year archived online
- Guest lecture series
- Campus advising
- Video-taped lectures
- Visit PR sites: 30 visits during Winter Quarter
- Solid advertising program for elections
- Publish 12 press releases
- Communiversity Day
- Transportation to Chicago
- ATEC (recently renamed Apartment and Condos in Evanston) reviews
- Manage normal finance issues
- Complete NAA Student Group Board project
- Restaurant/business guide
- Dorm/apartment review Web site
- Manage normal technology issues
- Allow student groups to advocate/support political parties/bills on a federal level
- Write and present proposal to improve the study abroad office
- Complete duties as clerk
—ALICE TRUONG
Students allowed to rally for political candidates at The Rock
Students having the right to partake in political activity is an issue ASG Clerk James D'Angelo has held near and dear to his heart. The Communication junior announced in yesterday's ASG meeting that students are now able to use The Rock to rally for political candidates.
D'Angelo said he met with Assistant General Councel John Caulkins, and Vice President and General Counsel Thomas Cline, and they agreed to allow any Associated Student Government-recognized groups to use The Rock to rally.
"They agree the policy is pretty poorly written," D'Angelo said.
Northwestern's policy on political activity, however, has not been rewritten. Students are still not allowed to endorse political candidates using university resources. Instead, the general counsel will not interpret The Rock as a university resource to allow students to be able to endorse candidates before the Feb. 5 Illinois primary elections.
D'Angelo considers this a "minor success," and said he will continue to work to change the political activity policy, which was last updated in April 2003.
—ALICE TRUONG
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
B-status group funding next week
The executive committee has released its B-status funding recommendations for the quarter. Financial Vice President Matt Bogusz said the senators' homework was to look at the packet presented by the committee. There's a big restructuring of the recommendations, with the committee's explanation of why they're recommended the amount of funds.
A total of $98,027 was requested by 42 B-status groups. The recommendations total $21,420.80. Among the B-status groups, Dance Marathon requested and was recommended the most amount of funds. Dance Marathon requested $31,000 — for lighting for five different events — and the committee recommends $2,000.
Tune in for live blogging of B-status funding next Wednesday.
—ALICE TRUONG
Financial misconducts for FMO, College Feminists
The Student Activities Finance Board found For Members Only and College Feminists guilty of financial misconduct. According to SAFB, all events, programs and publications funded by the board have to take place or be distributed before and during the reading period. FMO's publication, Blackboard, and College Feminists' publication, Juice, were distributed after the reading period. Blackboard was released during finals last quarter, and Juice was released this quarter.
As a result of the financial misconduct, SAFB have released a set of guidelines for both of the publications, including automatic removal of Blackboard's spring funding if the winter issue is released past the reading period. College Feminists is not subjected to the same recommendation because it does not have a spring issue.
"Them not appealing shows they understand and agree with the recommendations," Financial Vice President Aneesa Arshad, a SESP junior.
This is the first time College Feminists has been investigated for financial misconducts, according to Arshad. FMO, however, has have had other financial misconducts in the past.
—ALICE TRUONG
As a result of the financial misconduct, SAFB have released a set of guidelines for both of the publications, including automatic removal of Blackboard's spring funding if the winter issue is released past the reading period. College Feminists is not subjected to the same recommendation because it does not have a spring issue.
"Them not appealing shows they understand and agree with the recommendations," Financial Vice President Aneesa Arshad, a SESP junior.
This is the first time College Feminists has been investigated for financial misconducts, according to Arshad. FMO, however, has have had other financial misconducts in the past.
—ALICE TRUONG
Nondiscrimination bill presented
Weinberg sophomore Patrick Dawson presented a bill to add "gender identity and expression" to the Northwestern's non-discrimination policy. According to Dawson, NU is one of two "top 15" universities that does not include the gender identity clause in its non-discrimination policy. The other university is Washington University in St. Louis.
The bill will be debated next Wednesday.
—ALICE TRUONG
Financial Vice President selection committee
Neal Sales-Griffin has experience as a leader with International Student Business Education. He says he has good judgment, he can manage, but none of those skills he can list on a resume can really explain why he’s best for the job.
“The most important thing is passion,” the SESP junior said, “passion for ASG, for Northwestern.”
Five individuals in the Associated Student Government have been nominated for the financial vice president selection committee: Weinberg junior Aamna Anwer, SESP junior Neal Sales-Griffin, Weinberg junior Will Upton, Weinberg junior Allison Cook and SESP senior Ivy LeTourneau. Weinberg sophomore Samir Pendse was nominated but declined, saying he didn't have enough time to dedicate to the job, which would require about five hours per week, according to current Financial Vice President Aneesa Arshad, a SESP senior.
Sales, a SESP junior, has been elected by the ASG senate to the position, making him one of six members to vote on the new financial vice president.
Neal Sales-Griffin has experience as a leader with International Student Business Education. He says he has good judgment, he can manage, but none of those skills he can list on a resume can really explain why he’s best for the job.
“The most important thing is passion,” the SESP junior said, “passion for ASG, for Northwestern.”
"We just want good people," Sales said. "We want good passionate people making good judgment."
—ALICE TRUONG
“The most important thing is passion,” the SESP junior said, “passion for ASG, for Northwestern.”
Five individuals in the Associated Student Government have been nominated for the financial vice president selection committee: Weinberg junior Aamna Anwer, SESP junior Neal Sales-Griffin, Weinberg junior Will Upton, Weinberg junior Allison Cook and SESP senior Ivy LeTourneau. Weinberg sophomore Samir Pendse was nominated but declined, saying he didn't have enough time to dedicate to the job, which would require about five hours per week, according to current Financial Vice President Aneesa Arshad, a SESP senior.
Sales, a SESP junior, has been elected by the ASG senate to the position, making him one of six members to vote on the new financial vice president.
Neal Sales-Griffin has experience as a leader with International Student Business Education. He says he has good judgment, he can manage, but none of those skills he can list on a resume can really explain why he’s best for the job.
“The most important thing is passion,” the SESP junior said, “passion for ASG, for Northwestern.”
"We just want good people," Sales said. "We want good passionate people making good judgment."
—ALICE TRUONG
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Transportation poll ready for students on NU Link
UPDATE! Apparently, this issue is gaining steam. Facebook now has a group dedicated to the voting on the Chicago shuttle. There is only one member in there as of 8:40 p.m. today.
- Would you use the intercampus if it were offered on Saturdays?
- How many times a quarter do you go into Chicago on Saturday?
- How many times a quarter would you use a Saturday Intercampus?
- Would you go into Chicago more often if it were offered on Saturdays?
- Please check times for which you would like an inbound route (to Chicago):
- Please check times for which you would like an outbound route (from Chicago):
- What is the maximum you would be willing to pay per one-way ride?
- It is possible that a Saturday Intercampus could stop at other Chicago locations besides the Ward Building. Please select the attractions in Chicago where you would like the bus to stop:
- Do you have any other comments?
After you vote, you'll see the number of students who have voted and the percentage of students who voted for each answer.
—ALICE TRUONG
ASG releases Student-Community Relations Taskforce
Check out The Daily tomorrow for more details about the task force report.
But briefly, the Student-Community Relations Taskforce, composed off faculty members and student leaders, made the following recommendations during Fall Quarter to improve the relationship between Northwestern and Evanston:
ASG President Jon Webber said administrators have generally responded well to the recommendations, but that doesn't necessarily mean there will be funding for all of them. The task force's findings are still being presented to administrators who couldn't make the Dec. 5 meeting. The Weinberg senior said three things will happen to the list of recommendations:
Wildcat Welcome is unlikely to change because of the individual schools' advising policy, which would be difficult to re-engineer. Wildcat Welcome's length also depends on the way the week falls on the calendar, which can range from seven to 11 days.
The freshman freeze also is unlikely to change because it is an academically drawn policy instated by the General Faculty Committee, which is NU's equivalent to a faculty senate, which spent years to craft.
"It'd require too many people to change (the policy)," Banis said. "Frankly, I don't see that going away."
—ALICE TRUONG
But briefly, the Student-Community Relations Taskforce, composed off faculty members and student leaders, made the following recommendations during Fall Quarter to improve the relationship between Northwestern and Evanston:
- Creating a "third space": The task force hopes to use Shanley Pavilion, when theater groups have secured a new location, to create a cafe or sports bar atmosphere for both on- and off-campus students to socialize in a healthy manner during late-night weekends.
- Improving off-campus transportation: This shuttle would transport students to make downtown Chicago more accessible to students who can use this as a healthy alternative to excessive drinking. The task force also wants to work with the shuttle office for specific shuttle routes and with Saferide to decrease wait-times on Friday and Saturday nights.
- Amending the freshman freeze: The task force wants to shorten the freshman freeze to only the week of Wildcat Welcome. The currently policy prohibits freshmen in Greek houses until the end of the third week of class. In addition to changing the policy, the task force encourages the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association to hold information sessions at the beginning of the academic year about recruitment and interactions with on-campus Greek organizations.
- Tackling on-campus drinking: By improving new student alcohol education and providing late-night weekend munchies, the task force hopes to see a decrease in on-campus drinking. The new alcohol education would combine what is instated, such as on-campus educational programs, with information tailored specifically for NU students.
- Creating an off-campus housing office: A new off-campus housing office could provide information sessions for students considering living off campus or students already in off-campus residences. These sessions could tell students a range of information from contract negotiation and signing to how to throw a responsible off-campus party. The task force also hopes to see an off-campus housing review Web site. The office wold continue to work on increasing positive interactions between off-campus NU students and Evanston residents.
- Changing Wildcat Welcome: The task force wants to shorten Wildcat Welcome to five or six days improve late-night programming, include upperclassmen in Wildcat Welcome's programs and delay the move-in of returning students on campus from Wednesday to Thursday or Friday. Creating a fall quarter student advisory board with Associated Student Government, Panhellenic, Interfraternity Council, Residence Hall Association, Residential College Board presidents to meet several times during Fall Quarter to provide feedback to Wildcat Welcome coordinators.
ASG President Jon Webber said administrators have generally responded well to the recommendations, but that doesn't necessarily mean there will be funding for all of them. The task force's findings are still being presented to administrators who couldn't make the Dec. 5 meeting. The Weinberg senior said three things will happen to the list of recommendations:
- Webber hopes to see some of the recommendations on the Undergraduate Budget Priorities Committee's list of recommendations, that is due to come out sometime during February.
- Some funding for student groups might support some of the recommendations.
- University officials either reject or fund the recommendations.
Wildcat Welcome is unlikely to change because of the individual schools' advising policy, which would be difficult to re-engineer. Wildcat Welcome's length also depends on the way the week falls on the calendar, which can range from seven to 11 days.
The freshman freeze also is unlikely to change because it is an academically drawn policy instated by the General Faculty Committee, which is NU's equivalent to a faculty senate, which spent years to craft.
"It'd require too many people to change (the policy)," Banis said. "Frankly, I don't see that going away."
—ALICE TRUONG
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Transportation poll still not up
UPDATE! There have been talks in Associated Student Government since the beginning of the quarter about posting a transportation poll in NU Link to find out how students would feel about having a weekend Chicago shuttle. After the second ASG meeting, Wednesday, Jan. 16, the external relations committee chairwoman said a poll would be up the next day. During the third ASG meeting the week after, Wednesday, Jan. 23, it was announced the poll would be up during that week. It's currently Saturday night at about 10 p.m., and there still is no transportation poll on NU Link.
According to a former Daily ASG reporter, a few polls last year weren't up and running when they were supposed to. Because ASG relies on its technology director to post the polls, the date the polls go up on the Web site is at the discretion of the director. So, for example, if the director was particularly busy with his/her other responsibilities, the poll could be delayed.
—ALICE TRUONG
Thursday, January 24, 2008
General project updates and the like
So outside of heated debates, many other things happened during yesterday's ASG meeting. They won't necessarily take headlines (or even appear in the last sentence of the copy), which is why The Daily has a blog. These little updates are worth mentioning, especially when committee investigations are involved. It's also great in helping The Daily keep up with its tracking projects. For tracking updates, I'll put in an obnoxious UPDATE! in front of the description starting with this blog post.
There are two undergoing invesgitations concerning College Feminists' publication Juice and For Members Only's publication Blackboard. The investigations will be discussed Tuesday in committee and presented Wednesday to the Senate where recommendations will be made and senators will choose either to close the investigation or create sanctions against the groups.
The African American Theater Emsemble has removed its remaining funds from its fall events to its winter show.
UPDATE! The transportation poll, which was thought to run last Thursday, will be up sometime this week. The poll is part of the external relations committee's efforts to gauge student opinion about a possible weekend Chicago shuttle.
LISTSERV UPDATES
As for other news, there are a couple things circulating on the ASG listserv. Aside from the typical listserv forwardings, a couple might be of intrigue to the student body.
- Senator attendance. Who's representing you? Is s/he really representing you if s/he doesn't show up? Keep checking the ASG blog to see updates on this.
- Financial vice president application for the upcoming year. This is a pretty comprehensive application. It includes 12 questions and five hypothetical situations. But of course, the six voting members on the selection committee wouldn't want to laboriously read pages upon pages about ways to improve Student Activities Finance Board and the like, so there's a page limit. 14 pages double spaced. Applications are due Wednesday, Feb. 5.
- ASG President Jon Webber sent out last week an informal survey to senators, past and current student group presidents and PR chairs. In it, he asked questions ranging from their use of ground flyering to their use of NU Link. Webber said a couple weeks ago that he hopes the Undergraduate Budget Priorities Committee (which he is a part of) will recommend increasing communication technology on campus similar to what the dining halls and Norris University Center have been planning. On top of the technology, which could involve more flat screen televisions like the ones in Norris and outdoor weatherproof kiosks, helping student groups publicize their events, the technology could be helpful in the event of an emergency.
—ALICE TRUONG
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
ASG Meeting 1/23
Though the Jena 6 bill may have dominated ASG tonight, another bill was also passsed.
The bill pertained to allowing students the right to political activity on campus.
ASG Clerk James D'Angelo stated that the bill would allow students to support candidates vocally at the rock and also spread the word about a candidate during their campaign.
D'Angelo stated that other campuses have policies that would allow similar things and most universities would allow students this right.
The bill was passed unanimously.
The founder and president of Northwestern University Students for Ron Paul, Andrew Thompson, was present at the meeting and thanked the ASG for passing the bill and giving students the chance to exercise their freedom of political expression.
Thompson started the group in September when he contacted Ron Paul's campaign. He said the group have had to meet informally in places like Starbucks because they are not an ASG recognized group. Despite this though, the group's facebook group already comprises 59 members and 10 to 15 NU students attend meetings on a consistent basis.
"In addition to meetings, we would get the word out in the Evanston and NU communities and make sure people are aware of Ron Paul's campaign," Thompson said.
Thompson said the group planned to paint the Rock later in the week.
The bill pertained to allowing students the right to political activity on campus.
ASG Clerk James D'Angelo stated that the bill would allow students to support candidates vocally at the rock and also spread the word about a candidate during their campaign.
D'Angelo stated that other campuses have policies that would allow similar things and most universities would allow students this right.
The bill was passed unanimously.
The founder and president of Northwestern University Students for Ron Paul, Andrew Thompson, was present at the meeting and thanked the ASG for passing the bill and giving students the chance to exercise their freedom of political expression.
Thompson started the group in September when he contacted Ron Paul's campaign. He said the group have had to meet informally in places like Starbucks because they are not an ASG recognized group. Despite this though, the group's facebook group already comprises 59 members and 10 to 15 NU students attend meetings on a consistent basis.
"In addition to meetings, we would get the word out in the Evanston and NU communities and make sure people are aware of Ron Paul's campaign," Thompson said.
Thompson said the group planned to paint the Rock later in the week.
Senator turnout at MLK events
During this week's Associated Student Government meeting, ASG President Jon Webber asked for a show of hands to see how many senators went to the MLK events.
Of all the senators, a handful attended the 11 a.m. event commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. in the Pick-Staiger Concert Hall Monday, featuring former U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman. About twice as many senators attended the evening vigil at Alice Millar Chapel.
"It is embarassing when ASG doesn't show up," Webber said to the Senate.
—ALICE TRUONG
Debating, passing the Jena 6 bill
With a 75 percent majority, the Free the Jena 6 bill was passed despite about a half hour of debate and an attempt to table the bill. The bill was originally scheduled for 15 minutes of debate.
Many senators have been vocal about their stance on this bill.
Some question the facts that have been presented.
"The whole story isn't being told," Joe Sobecki said. "There are two stories to this."
In his examples, he brought up the reported possibility that the nooses hanging off the tree in Jena, La. were not in fact nooses but rope hung up by a rodeo club.
Other senators who have spoken up against the bill sponsored by Weinberg sophomore Brittany Smith as For Members Only senator have argued the issue shouldn't involve the university.
"The purpose of the resolution is to make a powerful statement," said Weinberg sophomore Jesse Yang who presented the bill.
Ivy LeTourneau who described herself as distanced from the Jena 6 incident as "a white girl from Minnesota" motioned to table the bill because she didn't think it was ASG's role to give voice to the issue.
"We shouldn't even be considering politically weighted bills in ASG," the SESP senior said. "I don't think ASG should be used as a megaphone for groups' message."
She said if the NU Coalition to Free the Jena 6 were an ASG-recognized group and presented the bill, the issue would have more weight.
The motion didn't gain the majority needed for it to be tabled. The bill was then voted on, and with a majority, it was passed.
"I'm really excited," Smith said. "I felt good ASG can make that kind of statement ... It's so blatantly clear it's racial injustice."
FMO President Mark Crain said Howard University, a historically black college, had condemned the outcome of the Jena 6, and that Northwestern — what he considered a "historically white institution" with a 6 percent black population — should follow Howard's lead.
He said the bill acted as a good way for students to get their voices heard.
"I think tonight students spoke out against injustice," the Weinberg junior said.
—ALICE TRUONG
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