House rules rouse debate
By Heather Cohu, contributing writer
Posted on September 21, 2006

Tuesday’s Student Senate meeting was filled with debate over the approval of the House Rules for the 2006-’07 academic year.

The debate was initially sparked by a student senator who felt the wording of a rule concerning the posting of attendance records on the Student Senate’s Web site was too vague. A motion was made for an amendment to be made on the rule.

Rather than state, “All attendance records will be posted on the SGA Web site in a timely manner after the senate meeting in question,” it was proposed that the rule state “All attendance records will be posted on the SGA Web site within two weeks of the senate meeting in question.”

The amendment passed 39-36.

Debate within the Student Senate soared when yet another amendment to a rule was proposed. The proposed amendment was to allow members three unexcused absences from committee meetings as opposed to two unexcused absences, though it proved to be controversial among the body.

“If we’re here because we want to be, then we shouldn’t be increasing the number of times that we skip out on committee meetings,” Sen. Lauren McPherson (Sr.) said.

Before the body could get around to making a formal vote on the amendment to the rule, it was realized that at this point in the meeting, quorum was not able to be reached. Only 65 out of the 98 senators were present. Two-thirds of all senators must be present in order for quorum to be met, and bills and amendments cannot be voted on if the quota is not met.

Speaker of the House Stephanie Genco (Sr.) said, “This can be a big lesson for everyone. Make plans to attend full senate meetings.”

While quorum was met earlier in the meeting, the body passed a University Program Board reserve bill submitted by Sen. Julianne Maguire (Sr.). The bill allows for the Finance Committee to allocate $248.10 from the organization’s reserve account toward the purchase of Macromedia Studio 8 software for UPB.

Near the close of the meeting, David Allen (Sr.), director of Government Relations, voiced his opinion on how debate between members of the body was adversely affecting the Student Senate. “We are disabling ourselves from being effective,” he said.

But the meeting was not complete until the announcement of SGA’s nominees for Mr. and Ms. Madison, which is awarded to one graduating male and one graduating female.

The recipient’s of Mr. and Ms. Madison award will be the two seniors that embody JMU to the greatest degree. Vice President of Student Affairs Aimee Cipicchio (Sr.) declared Allen and senior Emily Watkins two of this year’s nominees. Winners of the award will be announced during halftime at the Homecoming football game Oct. 29.