Comments on: There Oughta Be A Law … Oh, Wait …

By: Oregon Commentator » Blog Archive » When Voting Legally, Senate Chooses Hamilton

Sat, 10 Jun 2006 06:24:12 +0000

[…] In a stunner, Senate today changed its mind and elected Sara Hamilton as Senate President for the Summer. In an illegal, secret vote on Wednesday the Senate had purportedly elected Athan Papailiou. […]

By: Ian

Ian — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 08:09:06 +0000

Senate has to do it since they haven’t technically elected a President or Vice-President for summer. The secret election was about as legitimate as Milli Vanilli.

Also, the meeting minutes for 5/24 and 5/31 still aren’t available online.

By: Greg S.

Greg S. — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 07:08:48 +0000

I cant believe Im saying this, but Senate is actually doing the correct thing by holding another meeting to re-elect chairs. Even though it seems like it was Stephanie Erickson’s fault in the first place, the new senate is redoing it all anyway. Or maybe they just didnt want to get sued.

By: Miles Rost

Miles Rost — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 03:56:08 +0000

Bill Bradbury’s office?

Screw it. They do nothing.

By: Michael G.

Michael G. — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 01:42:40 +0000

Not only that, but it’s the Secretary of State’s office that investigates violations of Public Meetings law.

By: Tyler

Tyler — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 01:25:54 +0000

Yes, Miles, that may be true, but as Greg stated, all they have to do is have the meeting again and this time adhere to the rules. And, yes, it appears as if they are going to do this.

I would, however, love to file a grievance insisting that Erickson apologize to the Students of Faith.

By: Miles Rost

Miles Rost — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 00:58:13 +0000

Wouldn’t be much gas. One of my good friends from the Law School is working in the AG’s office right now. *grin*

By: Greg S.

Greg S. — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 00:47:01 +0000

“192.680 Enforcement of ORS 192.610 to 192.690; effect of violation on validity of decision of governing body; liability of members. (1) A decision made by a governing body of a public body in violation of ORS 192.610 to 192.690 shall be voidable. The decision shall not be voided if the governing body of the public body reinstates the decision while in compliance with ORS 192.610 to 192.690. A decision that is reinstated is effective from the date of its initial adoption.”
- I would assume that the “governing body” in this case would be the ASUO Constitution Court (correct me if I;m wrong). Thus, someone (and I assume it is going to be Tyler) would need to file a grievance which would go to the ASUO Constitution Court, which would then declare the vote invalid, and make the ASUO Senate re-elect summer committee chairs. But it looks like they are doing this (by the above post) anyway. Miles, I would save your time and gas - I dont know that the Attorney General’s office would really care about a violation of this scale.

By: Miles Rost

Miles Rost — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 22:54:15 +0000

I think I will go down and file a grievance, and maybe contact someone from the Atty. General’s office.

I could make it real hell for Stephanie Erickson. To which, it would be payback.

By: Toby

Toby — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 22:16:48 +0000

Where’s a walkout when you need one.

By: Tyler

Tyler — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 20:04:06 +0000

Are you personal friends with any of these people, Todd? Because that’s what it takes. I mean, Nate Gulley? Seriously? Wally Hicks? Jacob Daniels? I just don’t get it.

And we should file the grievance tomorrow. We’re not trying to be jerks about this, but I think it’s rather important to notify these people when they violate state law/federal law. Especially when they act like dicks when they’re doing it.

By: Todd

Todd — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 19:24:32 +0000

They weeded out me! The system must work!

By: Toby

Toby — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 18:15:20 +0000

Hey Ian, they really just don’t want to make anyone mad… and we know all of these people are highly qualified for these positions, why should we really question anyone being elected into positions of Senate leadership or vacant seats? Seriously, don’t you have FULL confidence in the committee (Ashley Rees, Mike Fillipelli, Sara Hamilton, and Athan Papailiou) that hired for the vacant senate seats. I mean, don’t you? Plus if the Senate leadership is being elected by the slate, I mean the senate, those senators will be critical enough to weed out the unqualified candidates….(if you didn’t catch on to the sarcasm, insert here).

Kudos for filing a greivance by the way.

By: Meghann

Meghann — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 17:21:56 +0000

I don’t think anything about this situation was “vicious” or “bitter.” It sounds like the Senate is just stupid.

By: Stan

Stan — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 14:41:58 +0000

“Academic politics is the most vicious and bitter form of politics,
because the stakes are so low.” (Wallace Sayre)

By: Ian

Ian — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 07:13:21 +0000

I cleaned up some of the code a bit. Tyler had to rush in order to get it up onto the web before we were kicked out of the EMU.

Did I really say “balloting”? You sure it wasn’t “outcome” or something more intelligent?

You said “balloting.”

By: Miles Rost

Miles Rost — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 07:12:13 +0000

Hmmmm…first case for one of my friends, potentially?

By: Meghann

Meghann — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 06:38:31 +0000

They’ll probably try to cite FERPA, the student privacy law, which would be total bullshit.

By: Nick

Nick — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 06:22:10 +0000

Did I really say “balloting”? You sure it wasn’t “outcome” or something more intelligent?

By: Matt P.

Matt P. — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 06:21:01 +0000

But, Mr. Graf, if they are required to release the Senate’s votes, it might hurt some people’s feelings! Is that what you want? To hurt people’s feelings?

I have respect for the Student Senate (and the Bus Project, just as an aside…), but the law’s the law and it’s best we all follow it. Good post, sir. Thanks for the update!