Spring Break
Debate bill defeated
Senate votes down proposed option to decrease time limit on discussion of issues
Mark Schaaf
Issue date: 10/20/05 Section: Campus News
After two consecutive weeks of meetings more than three hours long, Student Senate completed their meeting in less than two hours Monday night in the Tamarack Room of Davies Center.
For about an hour and 15 minutes of that time, senators debated how long they could debate.
Senator Jon Radcliffe introduced a bill that would have given Senate an option, by a two-thirds vote, to limit senators' speaking turns to one minute.
The bill, which required a two-thirds majority, was defeated 14-12.
Senators voting against the bill said it would limit the voice of the body, which speaks for all students.
"It's a big insult to say 'I will only listen to you for one minute,' " Senator Brandon Buchanan said.
Senator John McVoy, a co-author of the bill, said some Senate debates can get repetitive and waste time on other legislation, adding if Senate did not want to limit speaking turns, it could choose not to do so.
Currently, Senate bylaws limit each speaker to two 10-minute speaking turns.
Buchanan unsuccessfully motioned to limit debate on the bill to two minutes, and senators on both sides pointed to the failure of the motion as support for their arguments.
Senator Ashley Wickenhauser said the fact it was defeated showed senators need their full speaking turns, while Radcliffe said it showed senators had the power to vote down any limitations.
On another topic, Student Senate President Aaron Olson started off the meeting announcing the university got high marks for a successful and safe homecoming last weekend and thanked the homecoming committee for months of hard work.
Olson and Vice President Deanna Breault also told senators to not get down on themselves about negative press in campus media after The Spectator published an editorial Monday disagreeing with Senate's decision to bypass a Davies Center referendum.
"Don't let newspaper articles get you down," Olson said.
Next week, Senate will debate a bill authored by Senator Jacob Boer that would omit the pledge of allegiance from Senate's regular agenda.
Currently, the pledge is recited at the beginning of every meeting.
The bill was sent to the Internal Affairs Commission, which will meet at noon on Monday, and Boer said he was seeking input or suggestions on the legislation.
For about an hour and 15 minutes of that time, senators debated how long they could debate.
Senator Jon Radcliffe introduced a bill that would have given Senate an option, by a two-thirds vote, to limit senators' speaking turns to one minute.
The bill, which required a two-thirds majority, was defeated 14-12.
Senators voting against the bill said it would limit the voice of the body, which speaks for all students.
"It's a big insult to say 'I will only listen to you for one minute,' " Senator Brandon Buchanan said.
Senator John McVoy, a co-author of the bill, said some Senate debates can get repetitive and waste time on other legislation, adding if Senate did not want to limit speaking turns, it could choose not to do so.
Currently, Senate bylaws limit each speaker to two 10-minute speaking turns.
Buchanan unsuccessfully motioned to limit debate on the bill to two minutes, and senators on both sides pointed to the failure of the motion as support for their arguments.
Senator Ashley Wickenhauser said the fact it was defeated showed senators need their full speaking turns, while Radcliffe said it showed senators had the power to vote down any limitations.
On another topic, Student Senate President Aaron Olson started off the meeting announcing the university got high marks for a successful and safe homecoming last weekend and thanked the homecoming committee for months of hard work.
Olson and Vice President Deanna Breault also told senators to not get down on themselves about negative press in campus media after The Spectator published an editorial Monday disagreeing with Senate's decision to bypass a Davies Center referendum.
"Don't let newspaper articles get you down," Olson said.
Next week, Senate will debate a bill authored by Senator Jacob Boer that would omit the pledge of allegiance from Senate's regular agenda.
Currently, the pledge is recited at the beginning of every meeting.
The bill was sent to the Internal Affairs Commission, which will meet at noon on Monday, and Boer said he was seeking input or suggestions on the legislation.