ASG reviews proposed changes to bylaws, eliminating 3 secretary positions

Senators of Miami University’s Associated Student Government (ASG) proposed changes to secretarial roles in their upcoming bill to restructure the senate during its meeting on Nov. 12. Senators also brought forward student concerns regarding Miami dining.

Senators Kiser Young and Aiden Bryant, two of the authors of the proposed legislation, said if the bill passes the number of secretary positions will decrease from nine to six. They said the bill aims to even out the workload on senators and secretaries.

Young and Bryant said if the bill is passed, some roles such as the secretary of governmental relations and secretary of off-campus affairs will be combined into the secretary of community engagement, with the purpose of fostering relationships with the off-campus community.

Young said the infrastructure aspect of the role of secretary of sustainability and infrastructure will switch to the secretary of safety and transportation, which will integrate the secretarial role of Safety and Wellness. He said the reason for adding the transportation facet is to pass on students’ voices to the MUPD and Miami’s transportation department.

“We felt that adding that transportation [aspect], especially in recent events and violent events, was something that the Secretary [of Safety] would be better suited to do,” Young said.

If passed, the bill would create a new role, secretary of communications and outreach. Young and Bryant said its purpose is to connect organizations and to provide a working relationship with the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion (CSDI).

As for the executive cabinet, Young and Bryant said it will be solely chaired by the chief of staff and the roles of student body president and vice president will be more collaborative, with the vice president taking on a more active role.

Bryant and Young said after cutting three secretarial positions, ASG will save almost $9,000 with the remaining positions seeing a pay increase. The extra money will go into the Senate’s surplus.

Vice President Babs Dwyer said that the discussion surrounding ASG restructuring has been going on for a few years and that the legislation will not take effect this term.

“This has nothing to do personally with anyone in the positions right now,” Dwyer said. “ I just want to make that clear. We're not trying to pay ourselves more. This will really affect you guys who are coming into these roles and just improving ASG overall.”

The legislation will be voted on in the Senate meeting next week.

Additionally, secretary of on-campus affairs Daniel Martin responded to a student concern about the absence of to-go containers in the dining halls. He said this is unlikely to change.

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“[Miami Dining] feels like it devalues the community aspect,” Martin said.

Senator Bill Kwan said food had been stolen from Bell Tower, and his concern was submitted to the committee of on-campus affairs.

Senator Mary Nelson expressed a student concern about the lack of modern water fountains in Peabody Hall. The concern was committed to the Committee of Sustainability and Infrastructure.

ASG’s next meeting is at 5:40 p.m. on Nov. 19 in the Joslin Senate Chamber.

grovergc@miamioh.edu