Miami University’s Associated Student Government (ASG) discussed its Internal Operating Budget (IOB) and denied certain funding for the spring semester during its meeting on Feb. 25. Senators also listened to a presentation on sustainability at Miami and elected a new parliamentarian.
Secretary of the Treasury Hunter Rode presented an amended IOB to ASG, outlining the budget requests from cabinet members, secretaries and senate leadership.
Senators questioned requests made by Secretary of Off-Campus Affairs Patrick Houlihan, Secretary of Infrastructure & Sustainability John Day, Chief of Staff Nya Hodge and Student Body President Will Brinley.
“Budgets are budgets,” Pro Tempore Nicholas Barry said. “People are people. Don’t take anything personal. It’s just an issue with the budget.”
Senator Victoria Rivas entertained a motion to confirm several of the requests from Houlihan, Day, Hodge and Brinley. Senators voted in favor of this motion, meaning those portions of the budget now must be confirmed with a two-thirds majority.
If the items were denied under this confirmation, Speaker of the Senate Shelby Alford said the secretaries, senate leadership or cabinet members could not request the money again for the same items until next semester.
Rivas said there was not enough explanation given in the budget requests.
“We deserve accountability and transparency when it comes to the things we are passing on the budget,” Rivas said.
Senators entered executive session to debate the specified budget items outside the presence of secretaries.
As a result, senators denied Brinley’s funding requests for cabinet appreciation gifts and food for cabinet members. They also denied Day’s requests for green event funding for different ecological orgs and a sustainable t-shirt fund, an initiative to incentivize student organizations to purchase recycled t-shirts.
Senators tabled Hodge’s requests for new items in ASG’s office and Houlihan’s requests for door hangers, an outreach initiative to inform off-campus students about different opportunities, and food for committee meetings were tabled until next week. Senators passed the rest of the IOB.
Senators also passed legislation to remove inconsistencies between the Workday application and ASG’s bylaws. Rode said ASG needs to update the language of the bylaws to be less restrictive.
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“It’s important our documents are as consistent as possible,” Senator Duke Buckalew said.
Senators voted to create an ad hoc committee to oversee the changes set forth by the passed legislation. Rode said the committee will add clarifications regarding the IOB so it is not as difficult for future senators.
Alex Miller, Miami’s sustainability engagement coordinator, gave a presentation on sustainability initiatives at Miami. Miller said her newly-formed position is a result of the climate action plan, but only two people are working at Miami’s sustainability office.
Miller said ASG could help with big-picture planning, such as increasing knowledge on sustainability.
“[The sustainability office] is hoping to ramp up student engagement now that my position is in place,” she said.
Senators elected Aiden Bryant as parliamentarian in a special election after Jackson Abrams resigned from the position.
Secretary of On-Campus Affairs Daniel Martin reported back on student concerns about e-vehicles. He said his committee is working on an initiative with a Miami student to put e-scooter chargers on campus.
Senators brought up concerns about the end of the Victory Bell rivalry between the University of Cincinnati and Miami and plans to build a multi-purpose arena on Cook Field. Both concerns were committed to the On-Campus committee.
Alford said the student body president and student body vice president debate will be on March 11 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. following ASG’s meeting.
ASG’s next meeting is at 6 p.m. on March 4 in the Joslin Senate Chamber.
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