The Justice

Media Credit: Robyn Spector

1. Changes to the structure of student government

a. Replacement of "Senate" by "Assembly" and addition of Club Support Board

The body currently named the Student Union Senate would become the Student Union Assembly, which would maintain all current powers granted to the Senate except for the power to recognize, charter, de-recognize or de-charter clubs. The Union would establish a Club Support Board to deal exclusively with matters pertaining to student organizations, including chartering and de-chartering.

b. Election of the vice president

"In order to allow for greater cohesion within the Student Union," the vice president of the Student Union would be elected internally instead of by a vote of the student body.

c. "Union Judiciary" changed to "Student Judiciary"

The change in the constitution's language emphasizes that the Judiciary is run for and by students. The changes would also grant "students the opportunity to use the Judiciary to resolve conflict with a less formal, mediation resolution process." The changes state explicitly the criteria on which the Judiciary must make its decisions and advocates the creation of a Public Defender position to represent students in need of legal counsel.

d. Finance Board member and treasurer training

The committee advocates changes that ensure the appropriate preparation for members of the Finance Board and the Treasurer. Candidates for the position of Treasurer would need to announce their candidacy four weeks prior to the election to give adequate time for training and "newly elected Finance Board members shall undergo a mandatory two-week training prior to the end of the semester."

2. Senator for racial minority students and finance board member for racial minority students change in title

The title of the senator and Finance Board member representing minorities would be changed from representative of "racial minority students," to representative of "historically underrepresented races." Any member of the student body could run for either position, although voting would be limited to the constituency of "historically underrepresented races."

3. Definition of secured organizations

The committee recommends defining secured organizations as "those organizations that the student body recognizes as fundamental to the mission of the university."

Continued...

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