Posted on: January 25th, 2012
Category: Activism, Brandeis Values, Democracy, Elly, I get email, Student Union, Take Action, The Public Good, Transparency
Will we get (or at least vote on) a midyear senator this year?
Way back in the fall of 2009 (my first semester) there was a whole big controversy over the Student Union Secretary at the time, Diana Aronin, not submitting a constitutional amendment to the student body for a vote.
Aronin was ultimately impeached and removed from her position, only to run a write-in campaign in the next election and won her title back!
What was the amendement, you ask?
It proposed the creation of a midyear senator.
Yesterday we received and e-mail from Secretary Kirkland stating that President Rosen has re-introduced this amendement, and it will be voted on by the student body on February 1st.
Here's to learning from history!
Kirkland's full e-mail, including the text of the proposal, provided below:
The Student Union president, Herbie Rosen, has proposed a midyear senator position. The Student Union senate approved the proposition. As a result, there will be a student vote on February 1st. Below is the proposal.
If there is any student that has an argument against this proposal, they can submit it to me.
Amendment Proposal:
The establishment of a Mid-Year Senator
Sponsor: Herbie Rosen ‘12, Student Union President
Proposal Concerning: Article II: Union Senate, Section 2
Current text of Section 2
The Union Senate shall be composed of the Union Vice-President, two Union Senators at-large, each elected by the membership of the entire Union, two Union Senators from each graduating class each elected by the members of his/her class, one Union Senator from each residential quadrangle elected by Union residents of his/her residential quadrangle, one Union Senator from an off-campus residence elected by Union members living off campus, one Union Senator for Racial Minority Students, and one Union Senator for Transitional Year Program students elected by members of the Transitional Year Program.
The term of each position shall be one year, as defined in Article IX.
The Senate shall be the sole judge of what constitutes a residential quadrangle for the purposes of Union representation, and who qualifies as a resident thereof.
The Union Senator for Racial Minority Students shall be elected by a majority vote of all Union members who have declared themselves to the University as being racial minority students.
Proposed change:
The Union Senate shall be composed of the Union Vice-President, two Union Senators at-large, each elected by the membership of the entire Union, two Union Senators from each graduating class each elected by the members of his/her class, one Union Senator from each residential quadrangle elected by Union residents of his/her residential quadrangle, one Union Senator from an off-campus residence elected by Union members living off campus, one Union Senator for Racial Minority Students, and one Union Senator for Transitional Year Program students elected by members of the Transitional Year Program. There will also be one Union Senator elected by members of the most recent Mid-Year class to enter Brandeis as of January that academic year.
The term of each position shall be one year, as defined in Article IX, with the exception of the Mid-Year Senator position. At the beginning of the spring semester, the newest Mid-Year class will elect their representative to serve for the rest of the academic year.
The Senate shall be the sole judge of what constitutes a residential quadrangle for the purposes of Union representation, and who qualifies as a resident thereof.
The Union Senator for Racial Minority Students shall be elected by a majority vote of all Union members who have declared themselves to the University as being racial minority students.
