UCSU nudges Associated Students of Colorado bill forward

Critics fear bill may jepordize student-control of funds

The University of Colorado Student Union passed the ASC Funding Bill into second reading on Thursday night, which means the bill will be voted on a second and final time at their next meeting, next Thursday.

The bill was passed into second reading on a 12 to 2 vote.

If passed, the bill would pull $10,000 of funding for the statewide student government organization Associated Students of Colorado.

If given to the ASC, the money would go to a contract the orgainization has recently signed with the Center for Public Interest Research. The contract states that ASC will pay the Center for Public Interest Research to hire, provide benefits and train the executive director of the ASC.

The authors of the ASC Funding Bill, director of legislative affairs for UCSU Jesse Jensen and Tri-executive Hadley Brown, feel that by giving the Center for Public Interest Research this power, it undermines the whole point of a student-run organization.

“It would be irresponsible to turn money over to another organization,” Brown said, “Students should control student money.”

The students opposed to the bill worry that by refusing to grant the ASC this money, CU could damage its relationship with the other members of ASC.

“I don’t think that rescinding our earmark will have an effect on the contract (with the Center for Public Interest Research) – my concern is our future relationship with ASC,” said Representative-at-large Daniel Ramos, and junior political science major.

The UCSU also ratified a few new important members Thursday evening.

Sean Daly, a senior history major, was appointed the election commissioner for the fall 2007 elections.

“I’m passionate about increasing voter turnout,” Daly said. “I would like to start informing people about the election before election week.”

Daly plans on sending e-mail reminders to students, hanging signs and distributing flyers as early as possible in the election process.

Other new UCSU members ratified at the meeting were Ted Rogers, a grad student who was appointed the Liaison to Graduate and Professional Studies, and Collin Lesser, a senior finance major who was appointed voting member of the Finance Board.

Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Julie Ryan at [email protected]