Ohio University Student Senate will propose — yet again — to do away with their current way of conducting business and replace it with rules created by the Canadian Student Federation.
Ohio University Student Senate will propose — yet again — to do away with their current way of conducting business and replace it with rules created by the Canadian Student Federation.
Robert’s Rules is the current system that has been used for years in senate and governs when members can speak while controlling the general flow of meetings.
The resolution to suspend Robert’s Rules was proposed two senate meetings ago, but did not pass because some senators requested an outline of the succeeding rules before removing the current rules entirely.
Many aspects of the already-established rules will be kept. This includes quorum being greater than one-half of seated senate members, taking votes by voice and the president’s announcement of the agenda.
The proposed rules, which are used by the Student Union at the University of Quebec in Montreal, outline new ways to make proposals and amendments.
The largest change to the rules allows debate to be ended if “the Assembly feels that no new or relevant arguments are being added,” according to the rules, as long as the intention is not to “muzzle the Assembly.”
Senate President Megan Marzec, Vice President Caitlyn McDaniel and several senate members attended the Montreal Student Movement Convention held at the University of Quebec in June, where they learned about the 2012 Quebec student protests.
“We really admired the work the student movement did,” McDaniel said, adding that Restart’s model is largely based on the student movement at the University of Quebec.
To make a proposal, a senator must say: “I propose,” and compose his or her proposal “of a simple sentence with one verb” which must be seconded to open debate, the rules state.
If the proposal has no oppositions, it will be adopted unanimously. Otherwise, it requires a simple majority to pass.
The rules also state that any proposal made by a senator can be amended by voice, by a senator saying, “I propose to amend the proposal by,” as long as the meaning of the proposal is not changed.
The proposed amendment must be adopted or rejected before moving on to the original proposal.
McDaniel said that this new set of rules will be “based around open dialogue and changing conversation flow.”
Senate will also be voting on the resolution to add four more senators to the Women’s Affairs Commission, which is chaired by Women’s Affairs Commissioner Madison Koenig.
“The commissions on Student Senate have members based on representation on campus and women are more than half of the students on campus,” the resolution states.
McDaniel said she hopes that in following weeks, commissioners will also be added to Minority Affairs, African American Affairs and International Affairs commissions to accurately “represent diversity on campus.”
@ALISA_WARREN
AW120713@ohio.edu
