ASG senators plan to override Looney's veto
Eric Evridge
Issue date: 2/18/08 Section: News
Authors of Resolution 11, the resolution vetoed by ASG Pres. Nate Looney, plan to override Looney's veto during Tuesday's Associated Student Government meeting.
Their plan is to start motions to open floor debate.
The purpose of Resolution 11 was to create an ad-hoc committee to explore options in recycling and sustainability on campus with the help of the administration, not to mandate changes, authors of the bill said.
"I think that the debate between Nate and I has a lot to do with the role of the student government," said Jacob Holloway, one of the ASG senators who wrote the bill.
"Looney mentioned several times about the tone of the bill. He said the whole tone of the legislation was like we were trying to mandate the administration to do something. Well, first, the legislation is mandating nothing. We're actually just trying to set goals for the committee we're trying to establish," Holloway said.
"The whole first part of the legislation is preamble. It isn't binding. It's the author's attempt to defend the legislation," he said.
"It's like Nate is trying to say, in a nice way, that our student government has no voice or power concerning campus issues. That's what it sounds like to me. But I think, as students, we should have an active role in creating policy for this university. I think it hits on a popular theme in our generation and that is the frustration of feeling silenced," he said.
Looney said he vetoed the resolution because UA administrators are willing to discuss with ASG ideas for strengthening sustainability efforts.
"The opportunity to override my veto is something that is guaranteed in the constitution, and if they feel this is the only way available for them to reach their goals, then I feel that's what they need to pursue," Looney said. "However, when the administration is willing to sit down and discuss how we can strengthen UA sustainability efforts and work with us to create a stronger piece of legislation, I believe that route should be pursued."
Their plan is to start motions to open floor debate.
The purpose of Resolution 11 was to create an ad-hoc committee to explore options in recycling and sustainability on campus with the help of the administration, not to mandate changes, authors of the bill said.
"I think that the debate between Nate and I has a lot to do with the role of the student government," said Jacob Holloway, one of the ASG senators who wrote the bill.
"Looney mentioned several times about the tone of the bill. He said the whole tone of the legislation was like we were trying to mandate the administration to do something. Well, first, the legislation is mandating nothing. We're actually just trying to set goals for the committee we're trying to establish," Holloway said.
"The whole first part of the legislation is preamble. It isn't binding. It's the author's attempt to defend the legislation," he said.
"It's like Nate is trying to say, in a nice way, that our student government has no voice or power concerning campus issues. That's what it sounds like to me. But I think, as students, we should have an active role in creating policy for this university. I think it hits on a popular theme in our generation and that is the frustration of feeling silenced," he said.
Looney said he vetoed the resolution because UA administrators are willing to discuss with ASG ideas for strengthening sustainability efforts.
"The opportunity to override my veto is something that is guaranteed in the constitution, and if they feel this is the only way available for them to reach their goals, then I feel that's what they need to pursue," Looney said. "However, when the administration is willing to sit down and discuss how we can strengthen UA sustainability efforts and work with us to create a stronger piece of legislation, I believe that route should be pursued."
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