I think the award for ‘best comment’ should go to Jan for “What a shocker — another ASUO representative who doesn’t know what the fuck he’s talking about.”

That summed up the entire discussion in just one sentence.

I want to respond to your post. But it’s just very late. It has a lot of good stuff, and requires a nice, long response.

Minutes must indicate:

* Members present.
* All motions, proposals, resolutions, orders, ordinances and measures proposed and their disposition.
The result of all votes by name of each member (except for public bodies consisting of more than 25 members). No secret ballots are allowed.
* The substance of discussion on any matter.? You
* A reference to any document discussed at the meeting.

The issue here is, why risk breaking the law trying to get all that shit right, when you can just do the meeting over? The answer is because A) the exec overplayed its hand, and will not be able to replicate the results of that meeting, and B) it seems that in the ASUO, laziness often trumps concern for for the law, and it’s too easy to just not sweat this kind of stuff. The exec wants it’s inexperienced but loyal footsoldiers in the game, and let’s face it, they want it so at your expense. Why aren’t you out to get these people, Jon? This makes about as much sense as your unwillingness to confront Gulley after he called you a racist on the cover of the Emerald. Why help a bunch of cynical careerists and machine politicians who have kicked you again and again when you can stand up for what is fairly obviously the right thing to do?

You may not be a Senator any more, but then again, Emily’s most likely going to have to find at least a few new names after last weeks shenanigans… she’s gonna have to pick experienced people too, because nobody but nobody is gonna trust her “fresh new eyes” nonsense now.

Either way, it was my responsibility to make sure someone was present to take minutes at the Wednesday meeting. And I did not do that, which was a poor mistake.

The advice I received seems to be wrong, which is too bad, because it’s what I’ve been basing everything off of.

First of all, the ASUO DOES have to file Oregon Public Meeting Law. Jan’s right. As an independent body that allocates fees, you are a public body under the law. You have to follow the meeting and open records laws, and everyone in the ASUO should know that.

Second: I’m just curious if anyone in the ASUO is aware that Dave Frohnmayer wrote the open meeting law when he was Attorney General. There’s no excuse for the legal counsel to be unaware that you have to follow the law.

Often a lawyer will tell a client what they need to hear, and the client will instead hear what they want to hear, and pass it on without any analysis. I’m pretty sure the answer was more complex than “probably not.” Produce something in writing.

I love how people will use the “it’s just a technicality” defense when it suits them, but when someone like Sara is up on the chopping block, people who consistently violate the green tape mysteriously take a liking to the rules in their strictest form.

What really irks me here is that the whole problem with the ASUO is that the rules are not as strict as they should be. They are general, and leave much room for interpretation. While this would not be a huge problem if you had competent people to better define these rules on Con Court for bodies like the Senate, let’s face it, the ASUO is filled with children who would rather play politics than act like an adult and perform their duties like a professional. I really hope the new Senate can start off on the right foot next year and refuse to approve the minutes from an illegal meeting.

Jon, buddy, this whole thing stinks, and I know you know it. It’s too bad too, because Emily clearly doesn’t have your back in the slightest (weren’t you the most qualified candidate for the seat you applied for?) and yet here you are playing her bagman. I’ve always respected your opinion even when we disagreed, but I don’t know how to trust someone who makes an error like this, and then defends it by saying that it’s “a legal gray area, so sue me.” Sounds like the Gulley defense to me…

“The power possessed by student governments under ORS 351.070(1)(d)
and (e) to recommend incidental fee assessments and allocations to the Board of Higher Education makes the student government committees that prepare and make the recommendations governing bodies subject to the Public Meetings Law.”

I’m not angry at you personally for interpreting the law your own way, although I must admit it seems preposterous to argue that ASUO, with its state-mandated ability to control funds, wouldn’t be considered a “governing body.” But whatever, I hope somebody gets sued. I’m sure a Circuit Court judge will be completely swayed by the ASUO’s total disregard for the spirit of open government. Too bad Eddy Morales isn’t around anymore, he could throw his cell phone and beat up the judge’s wife. Or maybe somebody could play the race card — no shortage of that going on these days.

Swearing at people is uncalled for? Sorry, I can’t help it. I’m a journalist, for fuck’s sake.

I spoke with assistant general counsel on the phone about this several weeks ago. When I asked if our body is required to follow OPML, excluding the constitution, the answer I got was “probably not.” It wasn’t definitive, but that’s what I’ve been going off of. So it’s not like I’m making things up. I appreciate your information.

I also called the Attorney Generals’ office. They didn’t have a clear answer for me, but were very clear when they said that campus elections don’t fall under election laws. The fact is, these questions aren’t so simple and clear cut, and even when people try to get legal advice on these issues, lawyers struggle with interpretions. This doesn’t mean you need to get angry at me for following one interpretation.

You may also remember that several weeks ago, both of the ASUO’s main attorneys made it absolutely clear the we were not allowed to spend over-realized funds on construction projects. But we did anyways, and the President signed off on it. Legal issues aren’t so clear cut.

Now I’m gonna ask if you want to talk more about this, you send me an email at jrosenb1 (at) uoregon (dot) edu instead of swearing at me. Swearing at people is uncalled for, especially when it’s done anonymously.