Senate
discusses fee increases, appoints representatives
By
Joseph Serna
Online Forty-Niner
Assistant City Editor
The Associated Student Inc. Senate discussed putting a student fee increase
on the referendum Wednesday and appointed three students to five representative
positions.
Giving the senators a chance to float the fee increase to their constituents,
ASI Vice President Hironao Okahana proposed delaying the referendum issue until
next Wednesday.
“
I want to give you guys a week to think about it,” Okahana told the senators.
The three proposals are for an ASI general fund increase rangi ng from $4 to
$7, a $6 increase specific to the Child Development Center, and an annual adjustment
of the ASI fee depending on inflation, respectively.
Even though the vote will be delayed until next week, it did not deter senators
from discussing and clarifying the proposals Wednesday.
“
I think we need a fee increase,” said Sen. Jessica Vieira, College of
Education.
She noted student representatives are often reluctant to discuss student fee
increases, but because of ASI’s current financial straits, it may be
necessary.
According to Okahana, since 1991 ASI has lost over 40 percent of its purchasing
power because of inflation — a gap they hope to fill with the fee increase.
A majority of senators acknowledged the need for the proposals, but preferred
to wait until next week to thoroughly discuss its ramifications for the student
body.
“
I don’t feel comfortable discussing this anymore,” Sen. Kenneth
Cooper, College of the Arts, said to Okahana.
“
All we’re doing is voting to put this on the ballot,” Vieira contested.
She later opposed delaying the vote until next week, favoring further discussion
instead.
Also of concern to all senators was the lack of applicants for subsidiary board
and student representative positions.
For the five positions filled at Wednesday’s meeting, there was only
one applicant for each, forcing ASI to either leave the position vacant or
accept the applicant.
However, Okahana reassured the Senators although they were the only applicants,
they were interviewed adequately.
“
They’re willing to serve, they’re willing to sit in on the meetings,
and they’re willing to learn,” said Okahana of the three students
appointed during the meeting.
Alan Schaefer was appointed as both a student representative to the Program
Assessment and Review Council and the student representative to the Academic
Senate for the remainder of the academic year.
Jennifer Secor was also appointed as a student representative to the Program
Assessment and Review Council and student representative to the Curriculum
and Educational Policies Council.
The Senate also appointed Francisca Freeman as a student representative to
the University Resource Council.
|
