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Senate re-examines meal plan bill, tables Poverty Week initiative
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In general, no one shows up to the Associated Students of Boise State University Senate meetings. Sometimes the friends of the senators drop by, and occasionally a guest speaker will linger to hear the introduced legislation, but for the most part you could hear a pin drop.
The ASBSU Senate commands not only a $20,000 discretionary account, but also a $120,000 contingency fund, both of which are completely financed by student fees. Student fees also pay the senators’ salaries.
The ASBSU Senate meets every Tuesday and Thursday at 4 p.m. in the Student Union Forum. New legislation is typically introduced on Tuesdays, and voted on Thursdays. These meetings are completely open to the public.
Thursday, Nov. 13
Sen. At-Large Kelsey Ferrell sponsored Senate Resolution No. 04-2008, which voiced the Senate’s support for the “To Write Love on Her Arms” program.
Ferrell explained the movement began on MySpace, when a girl who cut herself posted photos of her self-mutilated arms on her page. Friends and strangers alike saw these photos and wanted to help, but she was ineligible for rehab because of her struggles with depression. The girl’s new friends provided her with at-home counseling and support.
The name of the organization stems from one of these acts of mutilation. To communicate her pain, the girl cut profanity into her arms, and organizers based their group’s name on that act. The group seeks to provide counseling, as well as suicide and depression awareness.
“I think it’s amazing what this group started,” Ferrel said, “especially over a MySpace blog.”
The “To Write Love on Her Arms” resolution passed unanimously.
Senate Bill No. 10-2008, hotly-contested legislation that would have allocated $1,000 to co-sponsor two Poverty Week events with Volunteer Services Board, was tabled in the Budget and Finance committee.
Sen. Pro Temp Joel Henretty said the VSB found alternative funding sources for its events.
“There’s no bad blood,” he said.
Tuesday, Nov. 18
Senate Resolution No. 03-2008, “Meal Equivalency Initiative,” returned from the Ways and Means committee Tuesday with several changes.
The alterations were mostly textual, replacing strong language such as, “demand,” with the phrase, “highly suggests.” The resolution also no longer states that ASBSU will boycott Aramark if meal plan equivalencies are not provided within one month.
The legislation, sponsored by White, was sent to the Student Affairs and Traditions committee for additional consideration. White also introduced Senate Bill No. 11-2008 allocating $112 to the purchase of new magnetic name tags for the senators. This bill comes just one week after the Senate purchased new ASBSU jackets for its members using funds from Senate Discretionary account.
What: ASBSU Senate
Where: Student Union Forum
When: Every Tuesday and Thursday at 4 p.m.
Why: You pay their wages
CHARLOTTE TAYLOR
Managing Editor