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GSS nominates ad hoc committee

Posted on Jan. 21, 2010, at 12:29 a.m.

Nine students were nominated Tuesday at the General Student Senate meeting to be part of the ad hoc committee charged with reviewing Fair Election Practices Commission guidelines.

The guidelines are being reviewed after allegations the commission failed to follow them during the Interfraternity Council elections last semester, which Skye Landry, chairwoman of FEPC, denies. Senators will be given another week to consider the nominees, after which a second nomination process and elections to the committee will follow.

“That’s an accusation by certain people that I don’t really agree with,” Skye Landry, chairwoman of FEPC, said. “And so I think that I have dealt with a lot of these issues. I had specifically asked [former Sen. Nicholas DeHaas] to be part of this committee so that I could work with the senators and show them all the things that need to be fixed.” Landry nominated herself as the sole representative from FEPC on the committee.

Landry said her experience as the FEPC chair will help expedite the process.

“This could be a very good turning point for our organization to move forward from here and emerge as a strong body,” said Sen. Mary Emmi.

Those nominated include Landry, DeHaas, former IFC president Tavian MacKinnon, Sens. Emmi, Brian Monahan, Jennifer Dana, Ryan Gavin and Nick Smally and Ian McKinnon, who ran against IFC President Colby Malcolm for the IFC presidency last semester. Neither McKinnon nor MacKinnon attended Tuesday’s meeting.

FEPC will be assisting Residents On Campus with their elections, set for Feb. 22. Landry said the process will likely not be affected by the committee’s review of the guidelines because it is unlikely the committee will recommend any changes prior to the election.

Earlier in the session, Student Government President Brian Harris announced he is interviewing candidates for the position of vice president of student entertainment and expects to decide by Friday. Sen. Patrick Nabozny and Black Bears linebacker Andrew Downey are known to have applied for the position, but it is unclear whether they are the only ones.

Sen. Rebecca Dyer said she testified before members of the Maine Legislature last week concerning the costs of a college education, including textbooks and tuition. She said the Legislature were glad to see a student in Augusta offering input on the difficulties of pursuing higher education in Maine.

Senate allocated $3,250 to the International Students Association to rent the Collins Center for the Arts for the group’s international dance festival; $1,200 to ISA for its international coffee hour; $2,500 to the Ultimate Frisbee Team; $1,450 to Maine Masque; and $1,965 to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. Senate chose to postpone a proposed allocation of $1,900 to the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship until next week because no representative from the fellowship was present Tuesday.

Justine Labonte, vice president of Financial Affairs, reported Student Government has received $270,000 of student activity fee money, the first of three payments over the course of the semester.

Senate approved the appointment of Sens. Nelson Carson and Timothy Smith to positions in Harris’s cabinet Tuesday.

Also during the meeting, Sen. Elias Elder was elected as the liaison between Student Government and Legal Services.

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 21st, 2010, 12:29 am. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.