University Senate moved one step closer to voting on a new constitution Friday with the first of three public forums.
A University Senate task force released a proposal for a new constitution last week to the campus and held the forum to allow people a chance to voice their concerns.
The next two open forums are at 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday in the Student Center Forum Room and at 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 16 in Burkhardt Building Rm. 100.
The task force has worked on the proposed constitution since last spring and presented it to the University Senate in January.
Bruce Hozeski, leader of the task force, said the point of the forums was to get information.
"Ideally, anyone who wants to say something, gets to," Hozeski said.
Hozeski said the task force will meet after the three forums to discuss the suggestions brought up at the forums and decide which amendments they will add to the proposed constitution.
At the forum, Hozeski outlined some of the changes proposed to the constitution, including a new flow chart of committees and councils, and new definitions of committees, which brought some concern from the audience.
Jerry McKean, associate professor of criminal justice and criminology, said he wasn't sure about the reasoning behind the new flow chart and that there were too many chances for a bill to be killed under the proposed constitution.
Joe Losco, Political Science chairman, said at the forum that he was concerned the University Senate was making amendments to bills brought to the whole group, when neither the current or proposed constitution gave it the power to do so.
"That's one of the reasons the current system is broken," Losco said. "(The senate) doesn't even know the rules, let alone abide by it."
Losco said, overall, he thinks the proposed constitution is a good change.
"(The proposed constitution) clearly defines areas of responsibilities, and each committee is now responsible to someone," Losco said.
Jayson Manship, Student Government Association president and task force member, said he thought everyone at the forum gave good, positive feedback and is pleased with the proposed constitution.
"It gives the student more say and power in the senate," Manship said.
The proposed constitution would let all SGA legislation to bypass committees and go straight to the University Senate.
Manship said he wasn't disappointed only 10 people came to the forum and he expects the same attendance at the next two forums because people have other oppurtunities to voice their concerns throughout the process.
The senate will open discussion on the proposed constitution at its next meeting, which is the earliest the senate can vote on the proposal.
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