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The power of a veto was realized when the Student Government Executive Cabinet struck down a resolution to establish a “Sweat-Free Advisory Committee.” Sen. Sarah Bigney sponsored the bill, which passed on Tuesday night’s meeting of the General Student Senate.
The proposed committee would affiliate with the Workers Rights Consortium, a nonprofit organization that, according to its Web site: “assist[s] in the enforcement of manufacturing codes of conduct adopted by colleges and universities.”
The administrative committee would use the organization’s guidelines to make sure that University of Maine merchandise, such as that sold in the Bookstore and Bear Necessities were not sweatshop-produced. Should such goods be discovered, the committee would work with the UMaine administration to correct the problem.
Sen. Jeff Bailey voted in favor of the committee. He said that although the issue was debated at length, many were in favor of it.
“There was over an hour and a half of questioning and debate over the issue. During this time, many great points on both sides of the issue were raised. In the end, an overwhelming majority of the student senate voted to pass the resolution,” he said.
However, the vote was not the deciding factor. The next day, an e-mail was circulated to the senators stating that the resolution had been vetoed. Bigney said she was not informed until after the decision had been made.
Bailey called on the cabinet to explain reasons behind its veto, resulting in a meeting with President Kate O’Brien, Vice President Brigham McNaughton and other members of the cabinet.
Vice President of Financial Affairs Judson Ritter said in a press release that procedural and technical concerns with the resolution had led to the veto.
“I felt the resolution had many things that needed to be fixed before it could be accepted,” Ritter said. “Student Government has no power to form an administrative committee as the resolution stated would happen. I would like to see the resolution state who in the administration would see to it that the committee was formed.”
Bailey said he did not think that was the case.
“The questions I heard from cabinet members at the meeting didn’t concern procedural problems, but rather they concerned increasing costs at the Bookstore and Bear Necessities,” he said. “My greatest concern was that the cabinet, many of whom weren’t in attendance at the meeting to hear the debate, were abusing their veto power.”
Bailey said that the intent of the resolution was an admirable one, and its aims will be achieved, despite the veto.
“There is a group of extremely dedicated and conscientious people that have put a tremendous amount of effort into making the sweat-free advisory committee a reality. I am committed to ensuring that their efforts are rewarded. I have no doubt that the committee will be formed with or without Student Government,” he said.
Bailey said that while he is unhappy with the final decision, the meeting was beneficial for all involved. He said that communication with the cabinet will help to prevent future misunderstandings between the Senate and it’s leaders.
“Having aired my concerns and those of some of my colleagues, I look forward to seeing the rewritten resolution and working together with the cabinet in the future,” Bailey said.
Ten cabinet members were present at Wednesday’s cabinet meeting them led to the veto. Of this, one opposed the veto and two abstained. The Executive Cabinet for Student Government members present at the meeting included President Kate O’Brien, Vice President Brigham Mcnaughton, Vice President of Student Entertainment Joshua Luce, Vice President for Student Organizations Nicole Rozanski, Vice President of Financial Affairs Judson Ritter, Inter-Fraternity Council Vice President Michael Russo, Panhell Vice President Stephanie Buckley, Off-Campus Board President Aaron Sterling, Residents on Campus President Dean Wilber and Sen. Adam Kirkland. Students are encouraged to pose questions regarding the issue to the cabinet members during their office hours.
Bangor Daily News