2008 Woodie Awards
Constitutional conflicts found
Debate over funding request leads to discovery of contradiction between
Ryan Hunter
Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: News
This contradiction was brought to the attention of Wheat, who said that the discrepancy, and the resulting controversy stemming from the Contingency Fund approval, was not intentional, and was little more than an innocent oversight.
"I'd love to say that the senate was a perfect thing, but in every organization there are mistakes, and these things happen," Wheat said. "This is something that is important, and it was a mistake. It is something that we will address."
Todd Itami, ASISU Arts and Sciences Senator, said that the discrepancy was of little importance, however, and cited several other instances where the Senate Rulebook and Bylaws conflicted with the Constitution.
"This issue isn't cut and dry either way," Itami said. "We could look at the bylaws and see the numerous times ASISU didn't follow them."
Both Itami and Wheat said that the Senate, which has the power to create its bylaws each year, had unanimously approved the Senate Rulebook before the year started, and that it had not contradicted with the old Constitution when it was approved. Since the new Constitution was put in place later in the year, however, the discrepancy was simply an oversight. Wheat also said that this oversight would be corrected soon to bring the Senate Rulebook in line with the Constitution.
"It's probably going to be something that will get fixed by next semester," Wheat said. "I'd say as a whole the bylaws are pretty sound. It was a historic thing to get a new constitution, the first since 1979. So it will of course have a few kinks the first few years, and it's unfortunate that this one got overlooked."
"I'd love to say that the senate was a perfect thing, but in every organization there are mistakes, and these things happen," Wheat said. "This is something that is important, and it was a mistake. It is something that we will address."
Todd Itami, ASISU Arts and Sciences Senator, said that the discrepancy was of little importance, however, and cited several other instances where the Senate Rulebook and Bylaws conflicted with the Constitution.
"This issue isn't cut and dry either way," Itami said. "We could look at the bylaws and see the numerous times ASISU didn't follow them."
Both Itami and Wheat said that the Senate, which has the power to create its bylaws each year, had unanimously approved the Senate Rulebook before the year started, and that it had not contradicted with the old Constitution when it was approved. Since the new Constitution was put in place later in the year, however, the discrepancy was simply an oversight. Wheat also said that this oversight would be corrected soon to bring the Senate Rulebook in line with the Constitution.
"It's probably going to be something that will get fixed by next semester," Wheat said. "I'd say as a whole the bylaws are pretty sound. It was a historic thing to get a new constitution, the first since 1979. So it will of course have a few kinks the first few years, and it's unfortunate that this one got overlooked."
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