A lack of legislation proposed by Student Senate this semester worries some Student Government Association representatives.
President Pro-Tempore Asher Lisec spoke to senators during the Wednesday meeting about a movement towards programming events and activities instead of writing legislation.
One piece of legislation was introduced today, and two more were voted on. Only four others have been voted on all semester - all of which were approved.
At the same time, SGA has put on a campus clean-up, shown a film, held a discussion and is planning a blood drive, wrapping paper drive and bike-a-thon.
"We are a legislative body, so our primary role is to write legislation," Lisec said.
She said the events so far this year have all been important, however. On-Campus chairman Ethan White agreed, but said the trend towards programming is scary.
"'Events are cool, let's run them,' isn't a good philosophy," Ethan White said.
Lisec said she wanted to help senators turn ideas into legislation, especially new senators who are unfamiliar with the process.
"If you want to write legislation, come talk to me," Lisec said. "I hear great ideas coming out of here, but I'm not seeing it being written into legislation."
Much of the legislation that has come through Student Senate has been sponsored by the executive branch members because Team Us promised to rewrite the Senate Bylaws if elected. The election code bylaw amendments were passed at the Wednesday meeting, as well as a recommendation to support extension of TechTime computer assistance hours.
The election code bylaw amendment includes doubling the money limit for campaign spending and increasing the time frame that applications for office are available. Three senators voted against the amendment and one abstained, although there was no discussion.
"We are just following though with things as we promised the campus we would do," Geraci said. "It's just disheartening to put a lot of effort into the Student Senate and have the same people vote against it every time."
Diversity and Multicultural Affairs chairman James Lyons voted against the legislation because of a misunderstanding he said he later cleared up. Academics Affairs chairwoman Alyssa Ridenour abstained because she lives in Elliot Hall and the residents there were uncomfortable that no senators were sponsoring the legislation.
"I agreed with everything in there," she said. "It's just there should have been a senator in there, and that's something that was brought up in our hall."
Senator Tristan White said he voted against the legislation because he felt doubling the limit for campaign spending was too much of an increase. He said he was also concerned about the amount of time and energy being spent on rewriting the bylaws.
"We are focusing more on internal issues instead of external things we could be doing for the student body," Tristan White said.
Tristan White, who said he is trying to put together a slate to run in the next election, voted against the first bylaw amendment concerning the executive branch, which included the elimination of the executive council. He said he felt the elimination placed too much pressure on the caucus and committee chairs.
"It's not something real simple you can fix," Tristan White said. "There is a lot of tension between different groups. I think it will come out next election time."
A speaker from the University Core Curriculum Task Force, Juli Eflin, spoke to SGA about possible changes to the core curriculum. SGA also addressed concerns about parking services ticketing over holidays and the variations in costs for parking meters around campus.
Lisec and senator Ashley Johnson continue work with Bracken Library to extend hours. Extended hours could begin as early as this winter. The Academics Affairs committee is looking into the creation of an Asian American history program, as well as why several majors on campus are increasing their course requirements.
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