By Kassondra Granata
After the ratification of the election results, President Eric Bergenn, Vice President Liz Braun and Treasurer Nick Alaimo gave up their seats last week after two years of service to the Student Government Association.
In uniform, those who were not to return on the senate next semester left the general assembly table and the newly elected senators took their place. Dr. Laura Tordenti, Vice President of Student Affairs took her turn swearing in the new executive board with Brian Choplick as President, Ashley Anderson as Vice President and Kory Mills as Treasurer. After Tordenti swore in the new senate, it’s first meeting under the new board began.
“Things are going to be a little different with excusals,” said Choplick to the senate during his first president’s report. “I am only going to excuse senator’s for academic reasons or personal short things that come up. You can obviously petition to the senate at any time you want.”
Choplick spoke directly to the new senate and gave his request that when the senate is voting for a motion, they will either say “yes” or “yay” and when they are voting against they will either say “no” or “nay.” If they want to abstain, they will just say “abstain.”
“Abstentions should only be used in sparing situations when you are unsure of something or would like to remain unbiased,” said Choplick. Choplick finished up telling the senate to not work privately within the Student Government Association.
“The most effective way you are going to get something done is by working with others,” Choplick said. “Or else you are going to get torn apart during the meetings for something that you present.” Choplick said that his first goal is to get the safe ride initiative that former President Eric Bergenn started last semester going.
“The most important thing that I want to do next year is spend more money,” Choplick said. “I think it is a big injustice to the student body that we have hundreds of thousands of dollars rolling into our reserves every year. That’s money that this student body pays for and they should see this money being spent.”
During Treasurer Kory Mills’ report, he said that it was crucial that the senate should pass the base budget for the 2013-2014 academic year. Mills said that the total amount was $334,384.10 to clubs. Mills said that the senate funded 101 clubs this year. Mills explained to the senate what was passed and what was failed throughout the budget for clubs and why. He motioned to have the senate pass it.
Sen. Bobby Berriault said that the base budget was “not a good one.”
“I hate this base budget,” said Berriault. “The student body is not represented in this budget. We are here to serve the student body and this budget does not do that.” Berriault also said that he understands that the senate needs to pass this budget, so he would abstain. Berriault suggested that the senate has money sitting around to make a profit.
Sen Dean Ott asked President Choplick if the SGA could make a profit off of the money that they do not spend. Choplick said no. Treasurer Mills answered Ott’s question.
“We don’t make a profit, and we do not have $55,000 sitting around for club’s use,” said Mills. “The Finance Committee did the best the could to stay with the budget. We did what he had to. That’s it. The end.”
The base budget passed with 18 yes-votes and 4 no-votes. Earlier in the meeting Sen. Berriault motioned to create a standing rule for the 2013-2014 academic year that when point of information is called, the person asking for the POI may direct their question to another person through the chair with the chair’s permission. The motion passed with 21 yes-votes and one no vote.
Sen. Berriault also motioned to approve the resolution concerning funding for the ConnSCU system. The resolution expressed the support of the student body for additional funding for the ConnSCU system.
Sen. Alex Lee moved to postpone the motion indefinitely. And with 18 yes-votes, two no-votes and one abstention the motion was postponed.
