ASCSU prepares to address academic bill of rights
A bill was introduced Wednesday night to the Associated Students
of CSU Senate voicing opposition to an academic bill of rights
recently introduced in the Colorado General Assembly.
The academic bill of rights, introduced Jan. 30, addresses the
rights of students to feel comfortable to express their opinions,
political and otherwise, in the classroom.
The bill had its first reading Wednesday night and was committed
to the Empowerment Committee.
Ryan Miccio, director of legislative affairs for ASCSU,
requested reports from all colleges Wednesday night about how their
students felt about the topic.
“Many students were concerned how the bill would affect their
classes,” said Maria Bennett, a senator from the College of Liberal
Arts. She said political science majors in particular were
concerned how this would affect class discussions.
There was not consensus among all senators, however.
“There were a few people who liked the idea behind the bill,”
said Michael Crook, associate senator for Intra-university.
Some did not feel their constituents were concerned with the
piece of legislation.
“Students in natural resources do not care about the bill,” said
Britta Schroeder, senator for the College of Natural Resources.
The College of Engineering, the College of Applied Human
Sciences, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical
Sciences and the graduate school had no report regarding how their
students felt concerning an academic bill of rights.
Jesse Lauchner, president of ASCSU, warned that if the senate
members begin voting from their own beliefs rather than the
opinions of the students they represent, any such legislation would
be vetoed.
Miccio hopes to have the bill passed by next week’s meeting.
Nathan Steinberg, the newly approved election chair, resigned
his position as senator of the College of Liberal Arts and
presented his appointees to the election committee. They were
Lindsay Higerd, ASCSU director of special events, Andy McDonald, a
former senator for the College of Liberal Arts, Theann Kennebeck, a
junior liberal arts major, and Kylie McCulloch, ASCSU assistant
director of special events.
All are current or former members of ASCSU with the exception of
Kennebeck.
In the time he has known these individuals, Steinberg said he
has developed confidence through the situations in which he has
seen them.
All four appointees were approved by the senate and sworn in
Wednesday night.
Also at the meeting, Ben Goldstein, director of student
services, made a final plea for RamRide volunteers this
weekend.
“RamRide will not run this weekend,” Goldstein said. Only two
slots were filled for this Friday.
Lauchner echoed his disappointment in the lack of
volunteers.
“We’ve reached a really crummy point. We may have to pull the
plug,” Lauchner said.
There will be a RamRide training tomorrow night, which Goldstein
said he hopes will provide the extra volunteers needed.
The senate also debated three new bills introduced Wednesday
concerning the upcoming elections and the ASCSU Executive
Branch.
Bill 3312 would create a student advocate position in the
judicial branch to advise students facing the ASCSU judicial
process.
Bill 3313 would require that any new cabinet position or changes
to current cabinet job descriptions be approved first by the
senate.
Bill 3311, which would change the constitution to require the
president and vice president of ASCSU to each have a 2.25
cumulative GPA, was voted on Wednesday night with a vote of 23 to
one with one abstention. The bill will have to receive a majority
vote next week to be passed.
Bill 3314 would change the job descriptions of president and
vice president to require a 2.25 cumulative grade point average in
order to hold those offices. This bill was given to committee.
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