Burnt Orange Report

Burnt Orange Report from the Floor

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Picture of me kayaking on Town Lake after the UDems Endorsement Meeting. Now, on to the report....

It's the first meeting of the new Assembly. After a short open forum, it's appointment time. (Updates continuous, keep refreshing the extended entry). Tim Allen, SG fly on the wall, is also liveblogging here. It's his birthday!)

First up is Executive Director: Nominee is Dan Pascal, the External Financial Director on the last Exec. The Reps seem fairly quiet (timid) as far as wanting to ask questions or ask many real questions. Let's not kid ourselves here, Dan was the major campaign manager for Connect and this appointment to me smells a bit like a political favor. Props to 2 year at large Rep. Matt Ross (one of the primary proponents of the Election Reform bill) for asking some real questions. It's as if everyone here knows what people are trying to ask but no one wants to do that. Approved by acclamation.

2 Year at Large (Omar's now open seat): Danielle Rugoff! The queen of the at large reps on Ignite, she represents to me why the electoral system at UT is broken. She belonged in SG to begin with, and it's sad that this is the route she ended up having to go to be seated. Approved by acclamation.

Internal Financial Director: Henna Tayheb, one of the current 2 year at large reps. This will open up another Rep seat. Question from Rep. Hart on whether this position lets students down that voted for her last year as a 2 year Rep. Rumor had it that she was asked not to run on Connect in exchange for an Exec spot... surprise, surprise, look who's up for approval !!! And as an Agency whose budget is controlled by her, I'm going to keep the following statement in mind: "I don't think we should cut funding from Committee & Agency budgets at all..." At least the questioning is getting a bit more aggressive. Hart is asking that since she was a Rep last year, why didn't she get involved with the appropriations process when the last IFD put out the call.

More below the fold, continual updates.

Ooo! We are actually going to debate this one, there is a line of people on the No side, Rep. Hart, grad Rep. Pekker, 2 year at large Rep. Ross, 2 year Rep. Rodrigo Interiano. On the yes side was Director Chris Kennedy, and amazingly, Omar Ochoa (plus others). We now have members of the Assembly asking the outgoing Internal Financial Director how much experience plays into a successful term as the manager of all monies for Student Government; Jessica Rice doesn't answer directly, but intimates that she had taken all steps possible to gain the experience necessary to carry out her task. She also answers in the negative when asked whether or not the applicant ever contacted her or asked to meet with her to discuss the position and the responsibilities it entails.

(Elliott Reep Reporting: People from the floor begin to ask who else applied for the position, without a response. Representatives Heart and Ross state that this will significantly influence their vote. One new rep speaks from the floor to the affect that if anyone has a doubt that Henna is not the best person at this University for the job, then they should not vote for her. Advocates counter with examples of Henna's exemplary service in the MIC, her sorority, and other organizations. However, these still do not counter the arguments that when it come to experience for THIS position (which controls roughly 80,000 dollars for next years SG, plus all of the Committee and Agency money) Henna has not demonstrated in the past the same enthusiasm for this position that she claims to at this time. Henna is a wonderful person, but she does not seem to be as well prepared for the position of Internal Financial Director as the current holder of that office was when she applied a year ago. There seems to be a significant concern among a least a small portion of the assembly to this effect.)

Personally, I love the fact that this is being debated. The sooner the Assembly starts thinking for itself, the better for SG. A 3 minute recess was called and we reconvened for roll call. 2/3 majority needed (29 votes).

FAILED! 21-14-1 (Yes, No, Abstain). This is the first time I've ever seen the Assembly vote down a nomination (though there have been no votes cast before in the case of Brian Ferguson's appointment last year to TSP Board). I find it interesting that a lot of the no votes were holdovers from the last assembly, 2 year at larges, or the 9 member of the Ignite ticket. And Jessica Hart and Courtney Livingston (one of the Ticket Splitters) have gained a few points in my book for having the chutzpah to question appointments.

Moved out of business to talk about AR 1. It's voted on next week. Back into the flow to talk about appointment for Secretary which is Stephanie Weaver, an outsider to SG who's on top of her game according to Rep. Livingston. Secretary doesn't need to be close to SG (like IFD should be). Approved by acclamation.

Clayton Stewart, former Liberal Arts Rep. (and Ticket Splitter) is up for External Financial Director. I missed some of the discussion; it seems to be about Ring Sales and whether he knew the people in charge (i.e. Wes Carpenter who is in the room). Although there are some questions here, I'm not all that sure there will be any opposition for this. (Clayton reminds me of Dan in style, think southern drawl and a cowboy hat, if that was SG dress code...)

But wait, Rep. Matt Ross asked the hard question about him leaving last week, which presented a bit of discussion from the other people that walked out. But everyone voted to approve him anyways.

Communications Director: Nominee Stacey Torres, from the Multicultural Information Center. My first gut reaction, political payoff to the MIC/Latino community which basically elected President Ochoa's ticket. Of course, she seems qualified as well so I don't have a problem with it. But the Exec board, like in any year, is usually made up of political appointees, part of my personal complaints of the Ticket system. I'm going to ask her a question about her thoughts on an SG blog.

And I'm happy with her answer. Better online communication is my big issue with any Comm. Director and I hope that we can work to integrate that into the SG website. Approved.

Matt Stolhandske just came in and officially submitted his resignation from International Student Affairs. Matt's tried to work for reform in SG and I think is tired of being beaten back. I am proud to call him a friend and will be sad to see him leave.

University Policy Director: Jennifer Harris. Hasn't missed a single SG meeting in the last 2 years. Rep. Stanis brought up the question of whether we can just make up this office out of thin air and appoint someone to it without adding it to the SG bylaws yet. It's ok apparently. (but let's not forget to add it in later people). Approved.

Associate Communication Director: Jamie Baker. If talking a long time was a qualification, he should be the Director, not the Associate. Oh, he just mentioned the GLBTAAA! Approved.

Legislative Relations Agency Co-Directors: Daniel Becka and Sam Laine. Folks, I'm getting to the point where I don't have much to write about the nominees, so if I can't think of anything, I might just write who they are, pardon me. Approved.

Election Supervisory Board: Danforth Dougherty, a friend of mine from Liberal Arts Honors, and a current member of the Board (as well as a member of Tejas, which has lots of people in SG, including the past ESB chair and President Chaney, though that is a discussion for a different time.) Publicly against abolishing Tickets, and so called "impartiality" may be one reason he was selected before Ali Puente, who was the legal representative for Ignite to the ESB. Approved.

Campus Fusion: Bradforth Howard, Alyson Parchman. Approved.

Judicial Commission: Ali Puente. I'm so proud of her. Approved without objection! Sweet justice. Sweeter if it had been ESB Chair, but nonetheless, sweet.

Points of Interest: 15 Senators on board for the Student on the Board of Regents bill. I've heard that Tax Free textbooks is more of a dud issue now that the fiscal note on that increased by about $10 million.

Props for VP Brummet for running a really good meeting. The return of smooth parlimentary procedure makes me happy.

New Comm Director says the Assembly should go to Players afterwards. A University Democrats tradition for the last year or two, (going to Players) so I rose to make a comment about it, as well as say they cold join the "save players" facebook group, as it has been said that it will be knocked down to make way for the new UT Alumni Hotel.