The Student News Site of University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Badger Herald

The Student News Site of University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Badger Herald

The Student News Site of University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Badger Herald

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ASM postpones new constitution vote to next meeting

Members of the University of Wisconsin student government postponed a vote Wednesday evening on whether a new constitution drafted for the government will be presented to students in a special election.

Associated Students of Madison Student Council members reviewed the constitution, drafted by the ASM Constitution Committee, but ultimately delayed the decision on having a student special election on the document until their next meeting.

“Students have a right to vote on this and see what else is out there, and I think this could be an opportunity to shed a more positive light on ASM,” representative Maria Giannopoulos said.

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Addressing concerns that the ASM Constitutional Committee failed to reach out to students adequately, ACC Chair Alex Brousseau said the group did the best they could by holding information sessions and reaching out to constituents.

Brousseau further asked the council to focus on the document itself and not the circumstances by which it came about.

“[The resolution] is about whether you believe students should have a say in how their student government is run,” Vice Chair Andrew Bulovsky said. “I don’t think the source is as important as the merit.”

In the open forum College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council President Ronald Crandall claimed the new legislation would promote shared governance between all schools and colleges.

According to Crandall, other colleges have expressed support for the document, though have not presented formal resolutions because of fear of retribution from ASM.

“I think [the new constitution] is really important to students,” Crandall said. “It really would encourage students to get involved in ASM and engage students in a more positive way.”

A proposal to table the resolution indefinitely was met by exclamations from council members that tabling the resolution would be to “sweep it under the rug” and not represent students. Still, the resolution to put the new constitution to a special election has been postponed until the council’s next meeting.

The council also voted to approve the University Health Services Budget with an additional $84,000 added to the original proposal. The additional funds will be used to hire two full-time employees for the organization.

In debate of the budget, representatives voiced student concerns of dissatisfaction with UHS services.

“I think voting down the UHS budget would be a disservice to students,” Giannopoulos said. “If students are dissatisfied with the service I think that’s something we need to address and make changes.”

The student council also said UW Interim Chancellor David Ward’s decision to enter a mediation with Adidas over a violation of the code of conduct required of companies licensed to reproduce Athletic’s logos is illegal according to ASM bylaws, because of a lack of explanation to the three shared governance boards.

In response to this action, student council members decided to vote on the resolution at a future council meeting, which would request Ward put Adidas on notice and follow the recommendations of the Label Licensing Policy Committee.

“Putting the company on notice is the most effective way to ensure our contracts are abided,” Rep. Leland Pan said.

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