While presidential elections garnered most of ASG’s attention Wednesday night, business continued as usual with the restructuring debate once again taking to the senate floor.
- President Claire Lew’s dramatic ASG reorganization proposal was tabled as new business once more, as a third proposal was presented by senator Aaron Zelikovich.
Speaker of the Senate Wilson Funkhouser decided to delay voting so that all three plans can be discussed and voted on at next week’s senate meeting, barring any new proposals being presented before then.
Zelikovich’s bill would subtract four senators from the current number of 49, with each student group electing its senator rather than appointing him or her. Senator election procedures would be devised by each group, but would have to be approved by ASG’s student group committee.
“It’s not about numbers,” said Zelikovich, a Weinberg freshman, in reference to the relatively small subtraction of senate seats in his plan. “The issue is making senators more accountable and more valuable to student groups.”
Reactions to Zelikovich’s proposal were mixed.
“I think it’s a decent start, but it doesn’t make enough of an adjustment from where we stand right now,” said Stefan Hyde, a McCormick freshman and senator. “With any restructuring plan we pass, I think it would need to make much more of a difference.”
Senator David Harris, a SESP freshman, expressed similar sentiments in looking for more from any type of reorganization.
“Everyone knows reform is needed, but I think this plan is deeply flawed,” said Harris. “It fails to address the problems we’ve delineated.”
Zelikovich’s plan offers another alternative to Lew’s bill, which would cut ASG down to 20 senators selected through campus-wide elections. The third option, presented last week by Weinberg freshman senator Ani Ajith, calls for three of the four student caucuses to be cut in half, while leaving it up to the student groups caucus to decide whether or not to reduce it in size.
Discussions will continue next week.
- A resolution requesting Northwestern administration to advertise diversity centers more actively was unanimously passed in senate.
The “True Colors” bill, put together by a committee led by newly reelected Student Life Vice President Katie Bradford, calls on the university to promote multicultural groups and centers on campus in brochures, packets, and tours to prospective or admitted students.
Committee members voiced displeasure with the university’s initial response, which cites campus tour time constraints as hindrances to ASG’s suggestions. Bradford said she was pleased to start the conversation.