AS decisions put on hold

By D. Lynn Bond
The Collegian

Empty Associated Students Senate positions remain open after a majority of the AS senate rejected its president's recommendations.

AS President Jennifer Reimer interviewed a series of applicants for the four open senate positions.

The vacancies were created after four senators were removed this semester for academic reasons. Reimer recommended people for the open spaces, as is her duty according to AS by-laws. Reimer was only given two weeks to make her recommendations to the senate.

Some senators expressed concern that they had not been invited to sit in on Reimer’s interviews with the candidates she had recommended, as they had in the past. They said that without being a part ofthe interview process they could not know about these recommendations to make an informed vote.

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Senator-At-Large Stephen Trembley said the positions were not adequately advertised.

“The reason why the senate recommendations are being pushed to the Personnel Committee is because the senate believes that we needed more publicity for these positions,” Trembley said.

During the meeting Trembley moved to table Reimer’s nominations due to his belief that the open positions had not been advertised limiting the number of students applying.

But other senators said by not voting on Reimer’s recommendations they were not letting the President fulfill her duties on the matter as outlined in the AS by-laws.

President Reimer said although the discussion raised some valid points, postponing voting on her recommendations will not make an improvement.

“I am glad there was a healthy discussion on the issue,” Reimer said. “I don’t believe that postponing the vote will address the structural problems raised by the senators.”

Simon Haeder, who was recommended by Reimer to fill the open Social Sciences Senator position, said postponing the vote was inappropriate.

“I thought the issues that were mentioned were valid,” Haeder said. “But the way they were brought up did not show respect for the nominees, the president, or the other senators.”

Since Reimer’s nominations were not accepted, the responsibility of recommending goes to the Personnel Committee who will begin the application and interview process again.

The decision of AS not to vote on applicants leaves spots for Senators in the College of Arts and Humanities, College of Social Sciences, and College of Health and Human Services. To be eligible students must be declared majors from those colleges. Any student in good standing can apply for the At-Large Clubs and Organization Senate position.

Students who applied last week for President Reimer’s recommendation do not need to apply again and will be considered by the Personnel Committee if they still wish to be considered.

Applications are available online or in the AS office, USU 316. They are due to the AS Office by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday Feb. 7.

The Personnel Committee will interview the applicants for the open positions on Wednesday.

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