Following up on the forced removal of two University of Wisconsin student government leaders, whose seats still remain vacant, Student Council representatives received word of the resignation of six more elected officials, including the body’s secretary.
Associated Students of Madison Secretary Thomas Sannito said he would be formally resigning from his position after the fall elections, and Chair Allie Garder also announced the resignations of Representatives Mario Ademaj, Jeanette Martin, Cody Ostenson, Lenora Hanson and Xander Gieryn. The vacant positions will be listed on the fall ballot.
Sannito said he did not enjoy the tediousness of the position and added he wants to leave the position open for someone able to do the job that needs the money.
“It was very different from what I expected,” Sannito said.
Chief Justice Kathryn Fifield also addressed previously introduced legislation requesting for a change to the closed session bylaws.
Fiefield said the current bylaw on convening in closed sessions, which states all closed Student Judiciary hearings must be recorded, specifically targets ASM’s judicial arm.
“[Bylaw 104(3)] is not necessary and discriminatory to Student Judiciary,” she said.
Rep. Cale Plamann argued the closed session bylaws were created so that should SJ be forced to go to Circuit Court, there would be an actual judicial record available for review.
He added these recordings could be an important tool for the university regarding legal affairs.
While Fifield said she agreed with Plamann’s logic, there is not enough infrastructure in place to keep these recordings out of the wrong hands and to require more than just an open records request for access to the records.
The legislation was approved by Student Council.
Plamann also introduced an Organized Debate Resolution, saying a speaking list of representatives wanting to speak should be kept instead of the traditional method of raising one’s placard and waiting for recognition from the chair.
He said this would not only help debate move in a quicker fashion but would also silence any complaints of censorship.
Legislative Affairs Chair Hannah Somers introduced legislation on extending deadlines for General Student Services Fund organizations and committee appointments on behalf of Student Services Finance Committee Chair Sarah Neibart.
Somers read from a letter by Neibart, saying the extension of GSSF budget deadlines would prove beneficial as it allows for a more sufficient amount of time to make decisions.
The legislation on SSFC appointments, which proposed SSFC members be appointed to auxiliary boards, cited the current tension between the Wisconsin Union and SSFC as the basis for the proposal.
The Council also voted to table legislation on budget alteration and a transparency act during the meeting.
The Transparent Segregated University Fee Referendum Act was tabled without objection until next week when Neibart could be present to speak on the legislation.
The act would require proposals asking for money on the referendum to provide both an initial and per-semester estimate of how much money students will be contributing from segregated fees. It also mandates these proposals list how long this spending would occur.
The proposed budget alteration to move the stipend for the recently eliminated chief of staff position to the ASM Recruitment Drive, and training funds was also tabled for a month with unanimous consent.
