Questions
for Associated Students, Inc.
The
ASI Senators are attempting to amend the
bylaw of Chapter II, Article I, Section
4B1a to allow themselves stipends for
their volunteer positions. The language
of this amended bylaw should not be allowed
to pass because it raises questions of
accountability regarding the ASI Senate.
The
senate is attempting to make compensation
for ASI senators more flexible and not
restricted to reimbursement of any necessary
expenses used for the purpose of ASI,
which is a non-profit corporation of volunteers.
Changing
the bylaw will give the senators more
liberty, allowing senators to be compensated
with less accountability for the money
they receive because they are the ones
who must approve the change. The senators
should not change the bylaw that states
that senators should be reimbursed for
any actual expenses incurred by ASI, while
the amount they are compensated must also
be determined by the AS Board of Control
and AS Senate (basically the same entity).
The new language of the bylaw allows for
senators to receive compensation money
not restricted to reimbursement for ASI
expenses. Basically, the senators would
be paid for volunteer positions, which
makes them employees.
In
addition, the bylaw change would be put
into effect for the current semester.
The bylaw currently states, "AS Senators
may receive financial compensations for
actual and necessary receipted expenses
incurred during the term of office."
The amendment, proposed by Morgan Wheeler,
Senator-at-Large, would omit part of the
statement so that instead it says, "AS
Senators may receive financial compensations
during the term of office." The bylaw
is worded in such a manner that there
is no mechanism to control what senators
are compensated for. This modification
is being pushed through at the end of
the semester, not allowing time to follow
the posting guidelines before voting on
and approving the change.
Volunteers,
because they are not employees, are not
paid, but are allowed reimbursement for
expenses or stipends depending on the
legislation. Because the ASI is a volunteer,
non-profit group the stipends that commissioners,
cabinet members and executives receive
are considered a type of gratuity pay
for their efforts. Senators are not allowed
to receive stipends under the current
bylaws, and are now attempting to change
that legislation quickly before the semester
ends, so that they will be paid for this
last semester, as well as the coming semester.
The
student body did approve a senator stipend
referendum in the last election, which
allows the senate some compensation for
their time and effort. The second part
of the plan is to pass this legislation
during the senate meeting tomorrow, which
would seal the deal, so to speak.
Our
concern with the changing legislation
is that it seems senate members are determining
their own fees for their services. The
student body has already expressed its
approval of the idea of paying ASI senators.
We aren't accusing the current senators
of abusing this idea, but these laws will
set precedent for CSULB in the future,
and we do not know what future senators
will do, especially when there is pay
involved. We feel the senators should
not be in control of how much they are
compensated for their time. The question
in our minds is: why is the legislation
being rushed in at the end of the year,
and who will hold ASI accountable if they
won't themselves?
