FB06-11: Bill to Create an Ad Hoc Committee for a Transparency Campaign
Tuesday, November 28th, 2006Sponsored by Victoria Ingenito
Whereas student council is an integral body to the student experience at UVA and should be clear and approachable for all students.
Whereas the transparency of student council has been a reoccurring issue pointed out on numerous occasions in spring and fall council elections, by student body members, clubs and organizations.
Whereas much of the student body is unaware of the structure and operations of student council.
Whereas an outreach campaign would allow Student Council to reconnect with students who have lost interest in the process of student self-governance because they lack an accurate understanding of the role Student Council and its members play in University life.
Be it therefore resolved that student council create an ad hoc committee to look into ways of increasing the transparency of council with the following primary aims:
- A) Draw students into the election process by showing the voting population what is at stake in Student Council elections. This may include topics such as the functions and responsibilities of elected officials and a clear idea of what Student Council can do for the student body.
- B) Establish better and easier access, for students, to information on legislation, issues and actions taken by Student Council. Evaluate past effort at achieving transparency and investigate and undertake new avenues of outreach. This will be accomplished in collaboration with existing council positions such as but not limited to the COS, DUR, EVP and CTO.
Be it further resolved that this committee stays in existence until May 2007, updating council on a monthly basis and culminate with a final report.
Members
Victoria Ingenito
A.J. Kornblith
Matt White
Nicholas Jordan
FR06-03: Resolution to Recognize Veterans Day
Tuesday, November 7th, 2006Sponsored by Representatives Brendan Dignan and Michael Winn.
Whereas, November 11, 2006 marks the seventieth annual celebration of Veterans Day, a day dedicated to the cause of world peace;
Whereas, the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States of America will celebrate this day as an opportunity for us all to recognize the sacrifices made by all of those American veterans who served our country in its defense of world peace;
Whereas, the University Registrar recognizes over 100 current University of Virginia students as being former active duty or reserve Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines, many of who served in combat operations;
Whereas, the University Army, Navy, and Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps currently enroll 308 cadets and midshipmen in their programs which result in the commissioning of some 60 military officers each year;
Whereas, students of the University have entered the Armed Forces ever since the University’s inception;
Be it therefore resolved, that the University of Virginia Student Council, on behalf of the Student Body, recognizes Veterans Day 2006 and thanks all students, faculty, staff, and alumni of The University who have served, or are currently serving in, the Armed Forces of the United States of America;
Be it further resolved, that the University of Virginia Student Council, on behalf of the Student Body, wishes to recognize cadets and midshipmen of the Army, Navy, and Air Force ROTC Departments and to thank them for preparing to lead this nation’s Armed Forces in the future;
Be it also resolved, that the University of Virginia Student Council, on behalf of the Student Body, invites all members of the University to display the flag of the United States of America on Saturday, November 11, 2006 in a manner that brings honor and recognition of a grateful nation to all these many men and women who are among us.
An Act (5 U.S.C. § 87(a)), approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday – - a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as “Armistice Day.”
http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp
FB06-10: Bill to Appoint Buildings a Recording Secretary
Tuesday, October 31st, 2006Sponsored by Executive Vice President Nicholas Jordan.
Whereas, there is currently no Recording Secretary;
Whereas, Student Council solicited applications in the fall of 2006;
Whereas, Liz Linka showed interest in the position during the fall of 2006;
Be it therefore enacted that, Liz Linka is appointed Recording Secretary of Student Council for the 2006-2007 school year.
FB06-09: Bill to Change Reimbursement Policy
Tuesday, October 24th, 2006Sponsored by Executive Vice President Nicholas Jordan
Whereas, Student Council is responsible for issuing reimbursement checks to Committees for activities, for Student Council Operations, and for Concessions payments to student groups;
Whereas¸ students have taken up to seven months to request reimbursement, which becomes problematic for our budget;
Whereas, requests for reimbursement need to be submitted before the completion of the budget period requested;
Whereas, the current limit placed on reimbursement requests is 60 days after the date of the event.
Be it therefore resolved, reimbursements will be limited to 50 days after the date of the event.
Whereas, the Student Council Chief Financial Officer is directly responsible for timely submission and payment of all reimbursement requests for authorized expenditure of Student Activity Funds,
Whereas¸ some students have delayed their submission of requests for reimbursement to such an extent that it is now problematic for the Chief Financial Officer to make necessary arrangements and to pay these requests before the end of the budget period,
Whereas, it is reasonable to establish a time limit within which all student requests for reimbursement must be submitted to the Chief Financial Officer,
Whereas, fifty calendar days is an adequate amount of time for any students to submit their request for reimbursement of authorized expenditures of Student Activity Funds to the Chief Financial Officer,
Whereas, the Chief Financial Officer should have the discretion to deny any request that is delayed beyond this time constraint without sufficient cause to justify an exemption,
Be it therefore resolved, that any request for reimbursement of Student Activity Funds must be submitted to the Chief Financial Officer no more than 50 calendar days after the event takes place.
FB06-08: Bill to Create the Rules and Ethics Board
Tuesday, October 24th, 2006Sponsored by Executive Vice President Nicholas Jordan
Whereas, Student Council is responsible for creating a Rules and Ethics Board each academic year;
Whereas¸ this responsibility is stated in our constitution;
Be it therefore resolved, that Student Council creates a Rules and Ethics Board to adjudicate alleged ethical and constitutional, by-laws and election rules violations or disputes of the Student Council;
Be it further resolved, each Board member shall serve the same term as the Executive Officers who appointed them;
Be it further resolved, the Board shall have the power of judicial review and statutory interpretation, and the ability to order injunctions and writs of mandamus, and its order shall be binding and enforceable on all officials of the Student Council;
Morris Amendments
Amendment I – Judicial Review Defined
For the purposes of statutory construction and interpretation, it is the intent of the Representative Body that the term “judicial review” contained within the statute and Article V of the by-laws shall be construed as:
“The ability to consider information acquired through direct inquiry and the presentation of evidence for the purpose of issuing findings and determinations on matters within the scope of the Board’s authority. The Board may review Student Council Committee decisions, in addition to any legislation sponsored by Student Council officials. The Board is explicitly prohibited from exercising inquisitive or adjudicative powers in any matters under the jurisdiction of the Honor, Judiciary, or Elections Committees.”
Amendment II – Officials Defined
For the purposes of statutory construction and interpretation, it is the intent of the Representative Body that the terms “officials” contained within this statute and Article V of the Student Council bylaws shall be construed as:
“The elected, appointed, and staff members of the executive branch of the Student Council.”
Amendment III – Right to Review of Board Decisions
In keeping with the need for checks and balances in good governance, any final decision reached by the Board may be set aside, wholly or in part, by a two-thirds vote of all members of the Representative Body. Student Council officials should refrain from seeking to influence the votes of an individual Representative or the Representative Body at-large aside from providing responses to any specific Representative or Representative Body inquiries.