Senators vote down two bills, save minority bill for after break
By LAUREN BAKER | Nov. 19, 2008After meeting for five hours Tuesday night, student senators will have some unfinished business to attend to after the Thanksgiving holiday.
After meeting for five hours Tuesday night, student senators will have some unfinished business to attend to after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Student Senate ended without voting on legislation that would limit the power of the minority party early Wednesday morning after a five-hour meeting.
At tonight's Student Senate meeting, members will vote on legislation that would limit the power of the minority party in addition to voting on a controversial nomination for Image chairman.
Student Senate is going on a field trip.
Some student leaders have made efforts in recent weeks to make Student Government more transparent since October's private e-mail scandal.
In a special meeting Thursday, student senators approved a resolution that urges UF students to consider the "severe negative consequences" of Amendment 2, which defines marriage as a legal union between a man and woman and could affect UF's benefits for employees with domestic partnerships.
Members of Student Senate voted against considering a resolution Tuesday that would have forced them to take a stance on an amendment on the ballot concerning marriage in Florida.
Following a renewed effort at transparency and bipartisanship in Student Government, a new Student Senate committee was created to review the selection process for replacement senators and committee seats; however some senators feel the endeavor has no clout.
Nineteen senators - 12 from the Gator Party, six from the Orange and Blue Party and one independent senator - were appointed to Student Senate committees during Tuesday's meeting.
In a two-part Student Senate meeting that lasted about five hours, 46 new senators were sworn in and new Senate leaders were elected.
Student Body President Kevin Reilly and Senate President Kellie Dale have verified the authenticity of private e-mails sent between them and other Student Government officials concerning summer Senate appointments and committee assignments.
Although he was re-elected to his seat following last week's Student Government elections, Orange and Blue Party Sen. Ben Cavataro could lose his position in Student Senate..
The Student Government Election Commission began hearing the first dozen of about 50 election violation complaints Thursday night at the Reitz Union.
Fresh off a dramatic campaign season, some members of Student Government said they are ready to get to work, following an SG election that brought about 20 percent of the student body to the polls.
After a night featuring drama and delays, the seesaw of two-party representation in UF Student Senate has edged closer to a balance.
About 300 students waited outside the Orange & Brew to hear results of Student Government elections early Thursday morning, but the results were not made available by press time because votes were still being counted by the Supervisor of Elections.
The first day of the Student Government election saw a high turnout of voters, but it did not come without some polling mishaps and political mischief.
After a breakdown in negotiations, the two major Student Government political parties will not debate each other as planned.
Four top officials from UF Student Government and Student Senate made plans via personal, non-SG e-mail accounts to keep Orange and Blue Party members out of Senate committees during the summer session, according to printouts of e-mails anonymously mailed to the Alligator last week.
Chomp the Vote, the Student Government-funded, non-partisan organization responsible for mobilizing student voters, has established less of an on-campus presence this fall than in past years.