Student Rights Committee keeps Court of Appeals

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

The Student Rights Committee voted against legislation last night that would have disbanded the Student Senate Court of Appeals.

No members have direct relations to the Senate

The bill, which was proposed by Student Body President Michael Wade Smith and Senior Sen. Mark Pacey, would have restored judicial authority to the Student Executive Committee.

Smith said the Student Executive Committee’s makeup gives it a “deep and intimate knowledge of the rules and regulations because we created them.”

Opponents feared that if judicial power were restored to the Student Executive Committee and an issue were to arise against members of the executive staff, theoretically they could vote on it or even influence other voting members because of their position.

Felix Zacharias, a first-year graduate student from Wichita, prepared a negative speech to be read to committee members at the meeting because he could not be present.

In his statement, Zacharias said disbanding the court of appeals would be “unethical, unwise and undemocratic.”

In 2009 when Student Body president Adam McGonigle suspended treasurer Alex Porte, a quick-fix solution wasn’t readily available and resulted in the birth of the court of appeals. Non-traditional student senator Aaron Harris, a senior from Wyandotte and a photographer for The University Daily Kansan, said he had multiple concerns with giving the judicial authority back to the committee.

“I believe the court of appeals is a new body that has not been given the chance to evolve into what the designers wanted it to be,” Harris said.

The remaining Student Senate committee meetings of the semester will deal with nominations for upcoming Senate elections.

Student committee requests$9,000 from Student Senate for guest speaker

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Against the wishes of some members, the Student Senate Finance Committee approved the Center for Community Outreach’s request for funding to bring speaker Greg Mortenson to the University in March.

At Wednesday’s finance committee meeting in the Kansas Union, the CCO requested $10,000 from the committee.

The committee denied the original amount, amending the total to the approved amount of $9,000. The Student Senate will vote on the amended amount next week.

CCO organizes an annual campaign in March, “Into the Street Week”, and plans on Mortenson for the key-note speaker.

Mortenson founded the Central Asia Institute and his recent book, “Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace…One School At A Time,” was on the New York Times Best Seller list three times.

CCO said Mortenson’s reputation as the most sought out speaker and his humanitarian work justify the funding.

Members of the finance committee said their concern was that a speaker with such a hefty price tag can take away funding from other students’ groups and their ability to bring speakers.

“Essentially, one group can bring in one speaker and the rest are S-O-L,” one committee member said.

David Cohen, student senate treasurer, said he would feel irresponsible if he did not speak out.

“I think it’s an absurd amount and way too high,” Cohen said.

According to members, the budget still has more than $30,000 in funding for other groups.

“This is the most amazing speaker and by far the best event Student Senate will have their name behind in the past five years,” one committee member said.

The event total is about $34,000, which includes $19,250 that was raised through other sources, such as Global International Studies and Student Union Activities.