A coalition of student organizations is expressing concern regarding the Associated Students of Madison’s new constitution, saying it poses a threat to student interests and organizations.
Before the constitution can be presented to students in a special election in February, it must be approved by the ASM Student Council at two consecutive meetings. The Student Council already approved it Dec. 3 and will look at it for its second approval this evening.
According to a press release by the coalition, if their demands aren’t met during today’s meeting, they plan to begin a “Vote No” campaign with members of their organization against the new constitution.
The coalition of organizations has two main concerns regarding the proposed constitution — including the addition of the executive position to the constitution, which they believe is too powerful — as well as the protection of student organizations under the new constitution.
“I have concerns about how much power the executive branch will have regarding appointments to the finance committee and in the grassroots committees,” said Brad Schmock, finance coordinator of the Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment organization on campus.
ASM Constitutional Chair Jeff Wright disagrees with some of the coalition’s concerns and said he believes that, as a whole, the constitution is a step in the right direction.
“It provides for clearer lines of accountability and responsibility, and it ensures that the deliberative body is more invested in the activities of student government,” Wright said. “It does come with tradeoffs, however, with one being that the processes of ASM may become more politicized.”
In order to help solve these problems, ASM has limited executive power by shifting the finance appointments to the senate and removed the senate’s ability to be the only body in charge of shared governance appointments. Additionally, ASM has established a conference committee to resolve budget disputes, according to Wright.
Student organizations have also expressed concern regarding the changes to the notifications given to General Student Service Fund organizations.
According to Chynna Haas, president of the Working Class Student Union and support service coordinator at the Campus Women’s Center, both of which are endorsing the petition, these changes are a major cause for concern.
“The original language of the constitution gave groups two months’ notice if there were going to be changes in their funding. In the new constitution, they removed the language and put them into the bylaws of the organization,” Haas said. “The bylaws aren’t going to be available to students when the constitution is called to referendum because they won’t be ready. This change will impact the longevity of the organization and hinder the growth.”
Wright agrees with these concerns, saying it will be ASM’s responsibility to have the bylaws ready by the time the referendum is brought before the student body, so that all parties will know how the student government will function day-to-day, according to Wright.
Currently, the coalition of student organizations against the new constitution is circulating a petition online. Representatives from various student organizations including Sex Out Loud, Engineers Without Borders, the Multicultural Student Organization and others have all signed the petition thus far.