Spring Break
RIC agrees with Task Force
Carrie Coppernoll
Issue date: 4/7/04 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Representatives of Residents' Interhall Congress agree with the work of the Task Force for Enhancing Student Governance. And RIC members have been promoting the proposed constitution that would overhaul student government.
RIC passed resolutions to both support the Task Force's proposed constitution and the petition to allow students to vote on the changes, RIC President David Deitz said.
The main reason for supporting the proposed constitution is the new system for electing senators, said Deitz, who is also a Task Force member. If the new constitution is adopted, ASG senators will be elected by academic college - not by housing.
"We're trying to get students to really think from a student perspective and not as interest groups," Deitz said. "... All it is is a way to group people to eliminate block voting."
RIC representatives also support the creation of a judiciary board and a standard of ethics.
Deitz said he and other members of RIC hope the petition collects the 2,000 signatures needed to bring the Task Force constitution to a vote. According to the current ASG constitution, 2,000 student signatures are required for any item to be voted on by the student body.
Items can also be brought to referendum if the Senate approves it by a two-thirds majority.
Chancellor John A. White will review the Task Force constitution regardless of how or if the student body votes. The UA System Board of Trustees will then vote on the document. The Board has final say on all university policy.
Even though RIC and ASG are separate organizations, Deitz said RIC is interested in representation in student government.
"RIC cares because it's our charge to look out for the 3,300 on-campus students on this campus," Deitz said.
Senators are elected by their housing status. Each residence hall and Greek house has representatives, and off-campus students can vote in general elections for their senators. But many ASG senators are appointed within the Senate, Deitz said. So if too many on-campus seats are appointed rather than elected, several RIC representatives feel on-campus students are not represented well.
Deitz said he and other members of RIC will promote the new constitution to on-campus students.
"We'll do everything we can to support the petition and the proposed constitution by the Task Force," Deitz said.
The new ASG constitution will benefit the study body in general, Deitz said.
"There is ... an overwhelmingly strong clamor for change on this campus," Deitz said. "RIC's approval and support for the constitution is another element and piece of that puzzle."
RIC passed resolutions to both support the Task Force's proposed constitution and the petition to allow students to vote on the changes, RIC President David Deitz said.
The main reason for supporting the proposed constitution is the new system for electing senators, said Deitz, who is also a Task Force member. If the new constitution is adopted, ASG senators will be elected by academic college - not by housing.
"We're trying to get students to really think from a student perspective and not as interest groups," Deitz said. "... All it is is a way to group people to eliminate block voting."
RIC representatives also support the creation of a judiciary board and a standard of ethics.
Deitz said he and other members of RIC hope the petition collects the 2,000 signatures needed to bring the Task Force constitution to a vote. According to the current ASG constitution, 2,000 student signatures are required for any item to be voted on by the student body.
Items can also be brought to referendum if the Senate approves it by a two-thirds majority.
Chancellor John A. White will review the Task Force constitution regardless of how or if the student body votes. The UA System Board of Trustees will then vote on the document. The Board has final say on all university policy.
Even though RIC and ASG are separate organizations, Deitz said RIC is interested in representation in student government.
"RIC cares because it's our charge to look out for the 3,300 on-campus students on this campus," Deitz said.
Senators are elected by their housing status. Each residence hall and Greek house has representatives, and off-campus students can vote in general elections for their senators. But many ASG senators are appointed within the Senate, Deitz said. So if too many on-campus seats are appointed rather than elected, several RIC representatives feel on-campus students are not represented well.
Deitz said he and other members of RIC will promote the new constitution to on-campus students.
"We'll do everything we can to support the petition and the proposed constitution by the Task Force," Deitz said.
The new ASG constitution will benefit the study body in general, Deitz said.
"There is ... an overwhelmingly strong clamor for change on this campus," Deitz said. "RIC's approval and support for the constitution is another element and piece of that puzzle."
