After heated debate, a bill granting online access to resumes and records of potential appointees was passed at Tuesday night/s Senate meeting.
The bill was initially designed to allow any student to view the information online, but authors changed the bill so that only student senators can view it.
"The intent behind the bill is good, but if we can have senators access it, why not anyone else?" asked Sen. Ben Cavataro. "It actually makes it harder to place restrictions than it does to make it available to everyone."
Nick Mildebrath, co-author of the bill, said the changes were made in an effort to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
"FERPA dictates that in order to release records, a person has to designate a small, specifically defined group," Mildebrath said. "The entire UF student body isn/t one."
Limiting online access to Senate officials follows FERPA more closely, Mildebrath said, but he would have liked to see access for all UF students.
Students are still able to access documents by visiting the Student Government office in the Reitz Union.
"Besides, I don/t think students really care that much about the information," Sen. Josh Roberts said. "Call me skeptical."
Senate also rejected an Orange and Blue bill titled "Student Government Ethics and Accountability Act."
Sen. Ashton Charles, echoing the sentiments of several senators, said the bill was unnecessary because much of it was covered in the 300 existing codes that govern senators/ behavior.
The bill aimed at applying ethical standards to all branches of SG, not just the legislative branch, Sen. Alden Gillespy said.
The bill also included stronger anti-discrimination rules to help protect students applying for SG positions.
"Over the past year, SG officials have filmed campaign videos in their offices and traded e-mails about how they can divvy up positions based on affiliation, not merit," Cavataro said in a press release.
University Police Department Capt. Jeff Holcomb attended the meeting to inform senators that Student Nighttime Auxilliary Patrol will run until 3 a.m. beginning in the fall, extending its service by an hour.
"I/d like to give a lot of credit to Jordan Johnson for that," Holcomb said. "When I say credit, I/d like to say blame because to be honest, I was trying to avoid this, but it has been passed, and we/re going full force in the fall."
Holcomb said his hesitation stemmed from the added stress an extra hour will cause for SNAP staff.
"It/s a pretty good stretch on our staff to work from 6 p.m. to 3 or 3:30 a.m.," he said.
Press Secretary Eric Conrad said SG administration is in the beginning phases of its DUI prevention program.
A kickoff this fall will include promotions with the Regional Transit System Later Gator, SNAP, local taxi companies and the new scooter pick-up service, he said.
