[media-credit name=’Zhao Lim/The Badger Herald’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]http://http://vimeo.com/14761994

Chair Brandon Williams introduces ASM

http://http://vimeo.com/14762087

Vice chair Adam Johnson introduces ASM

The student government granted almost $20,000 in funds to allow University of Wisconsin students to celebrate homecoming this year and debated whether or not to allow a student government member an extended leave of absence.

In an Associated Students of Madison Student Council meeting held Wednesday night, the council approved the UW Homecoming Committee’s request for over $19,000.

Ellen Frank, the UW Homecoming Committee president, spoke during the open forum at the meeting, explained the importance of homecoming events.

“We need to honor the Wisconsin tradition and celebrate what it means to be a Badger,” Frank said.

She added the major goal of this year’s homecoming week is to get more students involved in different organizations and events on campus.

ASM’s support will help to make homecoming week a success, Frank added.

ASM vice chair Adam Johnson said he was not surprised by the approval of the homecoming committee’s request from ASM.

The council’s finance committee usually follows the precedent of funding homecoming budget requests, Johnson added.

The council also endorsed the National Day of Voter Registration on September 28, sponsored by Rep. Jolie Lizotte.

The council’s endorsement would allow the UW Vote Coalition, with permission of the Faculty Senate, to, to make class announcements about voting and register students in class, said Lizotte.

It would also allow the coalition to register students in residence halls, Lizotte said.

Lizotte also suggested that the UW Homecoming committee should get involved in voter registration.

“This is a day of action…to remind students why it is important to get out and vote,” said Lizotte.
Lizotte called on council members to get involved in the campaign by volunteering to help the UW Vote Coalition.

Also at the meeting the council debated whether or not to grant a semester-long leave of absence to Nominations Board Chair Andrea Nichols, which would allow her to stay on council.

According to the request Nichols’ submitted, her schedule is too hectic for her to continue allocating time for attending council meetings.

Chair Brandon Williams said that Nichols would still fulfill her duties as Nominations Board Chair, but would discontinue attending council meetings.

Some members did not understand how Nichols’ could continue to fulfill her duties as chair if she did not attend council meetings.

“I feel like this was sprung on us out of the blue,” Representative Mario Adejma said. “If you can’t do your job, just quit.”

However, there were many members who found legitimacy in Nichols’ request.

“Her job is mostly administrative. She can do the bulk of her work from home,” Katy Ziebell, Student Activity Center Governing Board chair, said.

Johnson suggested the council should attempt to find an alternative option to Nichols’ leave of absence that would be more amenable to the council.

Council members suspended voting on Nichols’ request until the next council meeting.