Sen. Nate Wildes introduced a resolution on behalf of the Legislative Relations Committee titled An Act to Promote Discussion and Self-Education Regarding the Effects of TABOR II on the Undergraduate Student Population at the University of Maine. Wildes said it is “not taking a stance. It’s meant to be a resolution about a specific policy,” adding that the Legislative Relations Committee did not pass the resolution unanimously.

After presenting the resolution, Wildes and others were surprised by Sen. Ben Goodman’s amendment to the resolution.

Goodman’s amendment changed the title to An Act to Recognize the Potential Detrimental Effects of TABOR on the Undergraduate Student Population at the University of Maine and added language language that took a stronger opposition to TABOR.

The resolution says: “Be it resolved that we, the General Student Senate of the University of Maine Student Government, Inc. believe that the consequences of a law such as TABOR will have detrimental and far-reaching effects on the Undergraduate Student population at the University of Maine.  Therefore, in order to encourage the sustainability and viability of the University of Maine System we hereby reaffirm our 2006 stance that Student Government, Inc. stands strongly opposed to TABOR.”

Vice President Ross Wolland ruled the amendment as “out of order,” citing its intent to “otherwise influence legislation” as defined by Student Government’s Constitution. Sens. Nelson Carson and James Lyons offered constitutional evidence that led to a majority rule, appealing Wolland’s motion — allowing GSS to consider Sen. Goodman’s amendment, which Goodman explained.

“First, it changes the title of the act [and it] reflects the possible detrimental effects on the student population of Maine. TABOR [II] would be a grave danger to this campus and university system. Therefore we once again stand in opposition of TABOR [II],” Goodman said, who credited Sens. Peter Christopher and Joesph Nabozny as co-sponsors of the amendment.

“We need to be the voice for the student body. … We can’t be used as a conduit for our own beliefs. If we’re going to pass resolutions that directly relate to student body opinion then we should have the student body opinion,” Carson said.

Senators were encouraged to talk to students around campus to inform themselves about student opinion.

Sen. Nick DeHaas reminded the senate that referendums are not political because they are not tied to a political party.

“It’s more of a financial issue than a political issue. I would really hate to see [TABOR II] happen. … I really support this amendment,” said Sen. Dayna Margarita.

“There are other students out there like me who believe that [TABOR II] could possibly be beneficial to the state of Maine,” said Sen. Zachary Jackman.

The amended resolution passed.

Senators passed another resolution amending the Student Government’s policies on summer compensation. Wolland described the Act to Revise and Update the Financial Policies of the University of Maine Student Government Inc. as “eliminating the opportunity for student government executives to apply for compensation [in the summer].”

The resolution would affect summer compensation in the following Student Government executive positions: President, Vice President, Vice President of Financial Affairs, Vice President of Student Organizations and Vice President of Student Entertainment.

The resolution states that only contractual and service employees will receive summer compensation from now on.

Wildes questioned whether a lack of summer compensation would deter executives from fulfilling their duties and commitments. Sen. Alex Ortiz expressed the need for executives to be “responsible and dedicated enough not to need compensation.”

Vice President of Financial Affairs Justin Labonte — co-sponsor of the resolution — added, “We’re a non-profit organization. It’s a stipend, not an hourly wage or salary — you can’t treat it like that.”

“The way the system works right now is really unfair. … It’s hard to show what work’s being done,” said Vice President of Student Entertainment Abtin Mehdizadegan.

Walter Lazarz, president of UMaine’s Green Team, voiced support for American Clean Energy and Security Act during the meeting. Sen. Derek Jones was appointed Sergeant at Arms, the Senior Skull Society was announced as the Student Organization of the week and Wilde Stein presented a Pride Week itinerary.

Pride Week will take place the last week of October and begin with a pride flag raising ceremony.

Allocations included $700 to the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, $300 to the Senior Skull Society, $750 to Doulos, $255 to the Student Women’s Association and $2,500 to the International Students Association. Future projects, as presented in the President’s Report, include a Student Government Advisory Committee, dining service research, implementation of service learning as an academic model and the repurposing of outdated university computers.

Many students are unaware of the inner-workings of the senate. For example, while it would be easy to assume the organization is a legislative body, it is in fact a corporation. Regardless of its legal status, students look upon senate to act as a government, and taking stances on issues that affect students can go a long way in improving the group’s image.

In the cluttered world of college activities, legitimacy is everything. If a group takes themselves seriously, the campus community takes notice. Student government is crucial to the University of Maine. They are put in charge of distributing students’ money and make important decisions on a daily basis. For example, student entertainment deals with huge sums of money, intricate contracts and national entertainment acts.

Possibly because it is so misunderstood, student government is often looked down upon. Its complex intricacies and habit of fighting over what senate’s purpose is instead of what senate should do sets the group back as a whole. But when senators come together to make decisions on issues crucial to the student body, that’s when GSS lives up to its name and acts like a student government.

We urge student government to continue to be vocal on issues that matter to students. As the flagship university in a relatively small state, the UMaine student voice should be a loud one.

Student government, like most university organizations, is a learning experience for its members. But what better experience is there for student senators than being involved in real political issues? A group is only as legitimate as it chooses to be, and we hope student government continues to decide to take itself seriously as the voice of the student body, not just the organization that controls its wallet

TABOR II, if passed, would require voter approval for state and local government overspending and increases in taxation. Senator Nate Wildes, head of the Legislative Relations Committee, said GSS does not exist to pass resolutions for or against TABOR II, but to “enable and educate [the student body] to make decisions. … We have to look out for the best interest of our constituency.”

Senator Nelson Carson agreed with Wildes, saying there should be no resolution for or against TABOR II in GSS.

Senator Benjamin Goodman shot back against The Maine Campus’ Sept. 21 opinion column by Michael Shepherd during Special Orders and Announcements.

“When I’m in this room serving [GSS], I’m not serving the Democratic Party — I’m serving the General Student Senate,” Goodman said. “We have an obligation to fight for issues that affect students’ lives at the University of Maine. And as long as I’m a member of [GSS], I’m going to fight for them.”

President Owen McCarthy said GSS has a new Web site, umainesg.com.

Vice President Ross Wolland reported “senate is officially full for the upcoming session,” with 35 nominees. The 31st session of GSS begins Oct. 6, with the swearing in of new members. All committee and chair position terms will reset Oct. 6.

Two resolutions brought before senate were referred to the Policy and Procedures Committee for debate: a resolution to revise the Fair Elections Process guidelines and a resolution to revise and update the financial policies of the University of Maine Student Government, Inc. Senate tabled both resolutions until the Sept. 29 meeting.

Vice President of Student Entertainment Abtin Mehdizadegan thanked all involved with last Friday’s Decemberists concert, calling it a huge success.

Senate elected Nyssa Gatcombe by secret ballot to Student Organization Committee and Angelica Allen is the Fair Election Practices Commission’s newest member. In Community Association representation, Emily Fortin, Student Women’s Association president, reminded GSS of SWA and Wilde Stein’s upcoming Take Back the Night event on Oct. 6.

Guest speakers included Laurie Sidelko, Director of the Office of Alcohol and Drug Education Programs and Alan Stormann, Assistant Director of Parking Services. In conjunction with GSS, Sidelko has implemented changes on campus this year targeting the risks associated with alcohol abuse. Stormann, also in conjunction with GSS, has helped implement a new program that streamlines the parking permit application process.

Sidelko described the Medical Amnesty and Good Samaritan Policy, which was put into place Sept. 21.

“[It is serving] all of us as a community, protecting one another.” The Medical Amnesty Project coincides with Safety Week — a weeklong drug and alcohol awareness event sponsored in part by GSS and created after the death of UMaine student Dylan Lyford last winter, which involved alcohol.

“It’s a pilot project, not a policy,” Sidelko reminded the senate.

The project’s board will run data and statistics on a monthly basis and meet every Monday to review cases and determine amnesty for students. The Orono Police Department is currently uninvolved with the project.

Stormann spoke of cooperative efforts between UMaine Parking Services and GSS that culminated in an online parking permit application process used by 1,611 students this semester.

“That’s 1,611 sales that didn’t have to take place in student services,” he said in praise of GSS.

During the meeting, senate allocated $200 to Maine Masque, $250 to the Commuter and Nontraditional Students Association, $820 to the Cycling Club and $2,171.60 to the Equestrian Team.

In 2006, the GSS unanimously voted to oppose TABOR, agreeing to language calling a no vote “imperative.” As the elected voice of the student body, the senate has a moral obligation to voice concern on any initiative that could affect University of Maine funding and tuition costs.

The GSS works on the trustee model. Senators are elected by the student body to work in their best interests.  If students disagree with the senate’s decisions, ample time is made available at each meeting to voice concerns. Students can run for senate themselves or vote senators out.

Implementation of TABOR legislation in Colorado sent the Rocky Mountain State to 49th in education funding.  Tuition skyrocketed so much that some public, out-of-state schools market themselves as cheaper to Coloradans. Clearly, TABOR could have a tremendous impact on the University of Maine System.

In his piece last week, Michael Shepherd suggested  I have a partisan agenda because of my involvement with the Democratic Party, specifically in regards to my role as president of the Maine College Democrats.

In Maine our referendum issues are nonpartisan. Voters will give the bill an up or down vote with no attached party affiliation on Nov. 3. That’s why nonpartisan groups like the University of Maine System Board of Trustees and the Bangor City Council have voted to oppose the issue.

Had I made an attempt to endorse a candidate or party, criticism would have been more than   appropriate.  Mr. Shepherd calls the fight over TABOR a “partisan issue” but fighting to keep tuition low and education accessible for hardworking Maine families was not a partisan issue.

I was elected to the GSS last year by a constituency of students from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to work on issues that matter to the student body. Many of these students are fortunate to have parents — or in my case, a single parent — who make sacrifices, living on only dollars a week to allow so many of us to live here and earn an education.  Resulting tuition increases from TABOR would make attending school nearly impossible for these students.

I’ve been attending GSS meetings since my election last fall.  For someone who has so much to say about how the senate functions, I have yet to see Mr. Shepherd at a GSS meeting.

During a speech on Tuesday night, I extended an invitation to Mr. Shepherd to let me introduce him to a hardworking student who makes sacrifices to pay for tuition rates that are already too high.

The reality is that I could introduce him to hundreds of students here that are making similar sacrifices. They know all too well that the rising cost of tuition is not a partisan issue.

I’m proud of my record of involvement with the Democratic Party. I’m equally proud of my good friend and senate colleague Zachary Jackman’s record of involvement with the Republican Party. Political involvement is not a disqualifier for looking at important issues objectively.

I don’t care whether or not a good idea comes from a Republican or Democrat — I’ll always vote for the best interests of my constituency.  I know a dumb idea when I see it. TABOR was a dumb idea in 2006 and it’s a dumb idea in 2009.

The GSS has an obligation to take a stance on issues that affect the lives of University of Maine students.  As long as I’m a member of the student senate, I’m going to fight for the best interests of my constituency.

Benjamin Goodman is a student senator representing the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Sen. Nate Wildes’ Committee Report for Legislative Relations gave rise to conversation about the senate’s stance on the Maine Tax Relief Initiative — TABOR II — that will be on the Nov. 3 ballot. TABOR is a law that would restrict growth in government spending and establish a requirement for voter approval for any alternations to the tax structure, according to the Maine Municipal Association.

“In 2006, this body took a position on TABOR which had a strong impact on tuition,” said Sen. Ben Goodman. “From my understanding, this body took a stance against TABOR.”

Wildes said the Legislative Relations committee will thoroughly research the effect of all referendum questions and educate the student body on their impact.

“It is not the responsibility of either the committee or the General Student Senate to take a political stance on this issue,” Wildes said.

Goodman disagreed.

“This body is elected to represent the members of the student body and it is our responsibility to take a stance on issues that affect the student population,” Goodman said.

Questions were raised during the Club Maintenance portion of the meeting in response to the proposed name change of the “Pro-Life Initiative” to “Life Support.”

“Do you consider yourself a political organization?” Wildes asked.

Club President Maria Fernandez said the organization had “no political or religious” affiliations.
The proposal to change the name to “Life Support” passed.

Senate discussed nominations and elections for an Executive Budgetary Committee position during New Business. The senate nominated Sens. Pete Christopher, Clint Snyder and Jennifer Dana for the position. Dana declined and Christopher was elected to the position for three weeks until senate holds its first elections of the year.

President and Captain of the Women’s Rugby Club Victoria Passmore spoke on behalf of the resolution to allocate $1,120 to the organization.

“The $725 is for the league we’re in … mandatory insurance. $400 is for new jerseys. We plan on fundraising for the other half,” Passmore said.

The resolution to allocate $1,120 to Women’s Rugby passed and senate postponed a resolution to allocate $6,400 to the Men’s Ice Hockey Club for one week because no one from the organization attended.

Board of Trustees Representative Rebecca Dyer discussed two BOT meetings that took place over the summer where the task force’s proposed suggestions were explained.

One of the suggestions would lead to raising the tuition more at UMaine than at other schools in the University of Maine System, Dyer said.

Dyer also noted positive changes for UMaine, including updating the heating and air ventilation systems in Fogler Library, a new art studio to be constructed in the vacant Steward Commons and repaved bike paths.

Sens. Pete Christopher and Ben Goodman proposed a resolution to “Recognize the Contributions of the late U.S. Senator Edward Moore Kennedy” during the new business portion of the meeting.

Several senators discussed the “appropriateness” of the resolution and its reflection on the student body.

“It’s inherently political in nature,” Sen. Zach Jackman said. “I can not support this. It’s just a political thing.”

“What society have we come to if we can’t respect the dead?” Sen. Nelson Carson said. “There’s nothing bad coming from this. You guys are making something out of nothing.”

“We don’t need something like this to immortalize him,” Sen. Richard Luc said.

Sen. Derek Jones discussed the labels that could be placed upon senate because of the resolution. “This is an unneeded stance on national politics,” Jones said. “I don’t like being forced to decide this when I will be labeled something that I am not.”

Sen. Nyssa Gatcombe said, “I do not feel as if it is our place to recognize people outside of the University of Maine System.”

“It doesn’t benefit students on campus. It’s inappropriate,” Sen. Nate Wildes said.

“He was a champion of the little guy,” Goodman said. “He always spent time looking for the next generation. … The fact of the matter is, Sen. Kennedy always believed the most important thing to do was to invest in the next generation.”

The resolution to honor Kennedy passed with a 12-9 vote with five senators abstaining.

Student Heritage Alliance Council (SHAC) representative Sen. Alexander Ortiz discussed funding for SHAC’s Harambe Jazz Festival on September 5.

Questions were raised about SHAC’s total involvement in the event. Ortiz clarified that SHAC “is looking to make this a yearly event.”

The resolution passed without objection and $3,130 were allocated to SHAC.

Several senators criticized Rankin’s comment of a “hostile environment.” Sen. Joseph Nabozny said it was Rankin’s opinion and that senate was not the place for it.

“Student Government is not the time or place to bring in personal ideology … it is time to put personal ideology aside,” Nabozny said.

Sen. John Pelletier took part of the blame for Wilde Stein’s delay in asking for the money.

The senate approved the allocation by 23-7, one vote away from choosing against passage.

Interfraternity Council President Tavian MacKinnon and public relations representative Brian Harris, who is also a senator, spoke on behalf of a resolution to allocate $1,000 to IFC for the Pete Kilpatrick Benefit Concert May 1. MacKinnon said ticket sales are “not going as well as planned,” which is why IFC needs the extra money.

“What are you guys going to do if you don’t break even?” Pelletier asked.

“This will come out of IFC’s pocket,” MacKinnon said. “It’s the money for the year and it will diminish all of our funds for Greeks next semester.”

“What have been your means of advertising?” Sen. Anna Briggs asked.

Harris said IFC advertises around campus with posters and chalking, along with ads on the radio, in The Maine Campus and at Orchard Trails.

MacKinnon said he asked for help from the Greeks at the University of Southern Maine but they refused to help him because their own advertising for the USM Greek Week took precedence.

The senate approved the allocation for IFC 28-1.

Vice President Ross Wolland gave a presentation about the Peer Advisor Program. The program will be designed for first- and second-year students and be open to upper classmen. Wolland described the Peer Advisor Pilot Program as a “test run” of its effectiveness. The pilot will be implemented next fall if UMaine approves it.

The pilot program will include one college and one faculty advisor overseeing three-to-five peer advisors, trained in advising students. The students and faculty advisor will evaluate the program for its strength and performance after its beginning semester.

In the club maintenance portion, the former Wildcat Student Labor Action Project changed its name to Student Labor Action Project and received final recognition. The Student Men’s Association received preliminary recognition as a community association.

Five allocations were given: $150 to Alpha Delta, $700 to Wilde Stein, $1,000 to IFC, $1,200 to the International Students Association and $3,958.15 to the Panhellenic Council.

A new senator, Richard Luc, was sworn in.