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Senate argues dollars and sense, overturns veto
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The Associated Students of Boise State University Senate not only passed two bills at its Thursday, Oct. 16 meeting, but it overturned a veto as well.
Bill No. 06-2008 and Bill No. 07-2008 both passed with 12 votes of “yes” and one “no.” The veto, issued by ASBSU President Trevor Grigg on Resolution No. 02-2008, needed eight votes of “yes” (two-thirds of the house) to be overturned. The final vote was 8-4.
Sen. Geo Engberson was the sole dissenting voice in both bill votes.
Bill No. 06-2008 allocated approximately $3,500 to the purchase of SMART boards for the Music Education Department. Engberson expressed concern that the College of Arts and Sciences only contributed $1,000. He said classroom tools should be paid for using tuition or grant money.
“It sounds like something that is an excellent tool for education,” Engberson said. “[But] tuition should be what pays for such items.”
Senate guest Andy Goodman, a professor in the department, said their attempt to find grant money proved unsuccessful. He said the SMART boards are already being used in the public school districts, and his students need the technology at Boise State so they can enter the work force prepared.
Some senators disagreed with Engberson’s opinion. Bill sponsor Justin White, senator for the College of Arts and Sciences, said that student fees – the source of ASBSU’s budget – are for the wants and needs of the student body.
“This [bill] says ‘Hey, we’re here to fight for your education,’” Sen. At-Large Michael Reed said.
Engberson also moved to reduce the fiscal impact on Bill No. 07-2008 from $1,800 to $900. The bill allocates funds to pay the travel expenses of the Astral Vortex dancers, who performed at an ASBSU sponsored tailgate before the Hawai’i game Friday.
Grigg asked the Senate pay the dancers because it has a larger discretionary balance than the executive branch. Engberson suggested the executive staff pick up half of the bill.
“It was mostly an executive decision,” Engberson said. “It was a decision that was made without Senate involvement.”
The Senate ultimately voted 7-4-1 to reduce the fiscal impact of Bill No. 07-2008 to $900.
The Senate was the most torn, perhaps, on the decision to overturn Grigg’s veto of Sen. Saul Solis’ resolution. Resolution No. 02-2008 asked that the Senate wear business casual attire to Thursday voting meetings.
Grigg said that not only do resolutions carry no weight, but also the Senate should be passing legislation that will have a positive impact on the student body.
“I really want us to do real work for the students,” Grigg said. “Not worry about how we look in Senate.”
Sen. Kayleigh Jack and Reed echoed Grigg’s sentiments.
“I can tell you from first hand experience that it doesn’t matter what costume you wear,” Reed said, “People won’t respect you unless they see the work you do.”
The Senate ultimately voted to overturn the veto.
The ASBSU Senate meets every Tuesday and Thursday at 4 p.m. in the Student Union Forum.
CHARLOTTE TAYLOR
Managing Editor
