ASG elects 3 secretaries, discusses student org spending

Miami University’s Associated Student Government (ASG) continued cabinet elections during its April 22 meeting. Senators passed two standing rules amendments and a bill to restructure the senate. Senators also expressed concerns about confetti litter and student organization funding.

Senator Bill Kwan said tier four, the highest tier, organizations had their funding cut unexpectedly, and that ASG should have given them more of a warning.

Secretary of the Treasury Hunter Rode said without cuts, ASG would have run out of money by early March. He said ASG cut the tier four orgs because they usually do not use all of the funds. Rode said his committee will work on restructuring spending caps to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

“It is sad that we had to suddenly [make the cuts],” Rode said, “but I would still make the same decision.”

A student submitted a concern to ASG’s form about confetti litter around campus, stating it is terrible for the environment.

Senator Adrian Dooley responded to the concern. He said ASG ordered biodegradable confetti, but it has been stuck in the shipping cycle. Dooley said it is projected to arrive before the end of the semester, and the leftover confetti will be used for future graduations.

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ASG elected Senator Kathryn Kleeberger as secretary of communications and outreach. She ran against Senator Kiser Young.

Kleeberger said she wants to work on ASG’s social media platforms and implement a LinkedIn account. She also said she wants to hold roundtable discussions to hear student voices directly and add DEI fellowships to the committee.

ASG elected Tyreke Farquharson as secretary of community engagement. He ran against Senator Wade Warren.

Farquharson said he wants to make civic engagement part of campus culture and focus on off-campus support through renter education workshops. He also said he wants to improve the relationship between Oxford residents and Miami students.

“Off-campus students can feel disconnected,” Farquharson said. “[I want to] make sure students feel supported no matter where they go.”

ASG elected Secretary of Infrastructure and Sustainability John Day as secretary of sustainability, a new position. He ran against Cara Hallquist and Senator Maria Buzogany.

Day said he wants to continue initiatives from his current term, like educating students on the sustainable opportunities and options Miami already has. He also said he wants to make purchasing and providing biodegradable confetti an annual occurrence.

“A lot of students don’t know what [Miami does] for sustainability,” Day said. “Creating huge events might not necessarily be the best path for this position.”

ASG passed an amendment to its standing rules section on public statements. Senator Susanne Morrissey said the names of executive cabinet members who sponsor statements will not be included in the final document. Statements must be passed by a two-thirds majority of the senate and abide by the new bylaws concerning nonpartisanship.

Speaker of the Senate Shelby Alford introduced another standing rules amendment. She said its purpose is to incorporate external committees for overreach reasons and to remove items no longer included in the bylaws. ASG passed the amendment by a two-thirds majority.

Senators will continue with cabinet elections during ASG’s last meeting of the semester at 6 p.m. on April 29 in the Joslin Senate Chamber.

Grovergc@miamioh.edu