by Lisa M. Chmiola
Staff Writer
Although Wednesday's Students' Association meeting seemed to be the feature act in a stand-up comedy routine, the senate passed legislation for the first time since November.
A bill to adopt a revised election code was unanimously passed after brief discussion. The new code will require optometry students to vote at the University Hilton and engineering majors to vote in the Technology Building.
The extra voting site for pharmacy students in the Medical Center was discontinued due to low voter turnout - approximately 20 votes in the past eight years, according to Director of Campus Activities David Daniell.
"We didn't feel it warranted spending close to $100 to keep a student out there at a polling location ... (for) two votes a year," said Jon Erickson, speaker of the senate.
A more controversial piece of legislation, introduced on the senate floor by Erickson, was a resolution opposing the passage of Texas House Bill 184.
Authored by Rep. Ron Wilson, District 131, the bill requires that "the editorial governing board and staff of each student publication of an institution of higher education must reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of this state."
The bill was first discussed at the Jan. 22 senate meeting when President John Moore read a response submitted by the Student Publications Committee to the UH administration.
The SPC, the governing body of Student Publications, stated that it could not endorse H.B. 184 due to issues of unconstitutionality, freedom of the press and potential loss of revenue for the publications.
"It would also be unfair to force students that lack desire and/or time commitment to join the staffs of the publications solely because they fit a specific racial or ethnic description," the committee wrote.
"This (SPC response) is something that I personally feel is worth standing for," Moore said after reading the response last week. He also said he wanted to see senators take action against the bill.
The legislation was sent for further review to SA's Student Life Committee by Erickson.
"It's the sole decision of the speaker to place legislation in whichever committee he deems necessary," he said, explaining why no action was taken on the resolution. "It does affect the students on campus ... and what they're doing on campus."
The senate also discussed a resolution to create a right-turn-only lane at the intersection of Calhoun and Entrance One. The resolution was originally introduced in November, but a senate committee is still working on it.
The University Administration and Finance Committee reported it had received interest from UH administration to go ahead with the turn lane project.
"UH is willing and ready to put down the molding and add the spray paint (for the lane)," said At-Large Sen. Nathan Whittman.
Also unanimously passed by the senate were Vice President Kay To's nominations of three senators, members of university committees and assistant election commissioners. To handled the nominations in Moore's absence. Krysta Ellis and Kathryn Ann Engleman were appointed to fill the Education seats, and Sarah Martin was accepted as a Technology senator.
Although Erickson announced 11 vacancies at the beginning of the meeting, after adjournment the senate was left with only eight vacant seats.
Only two weeks remain to fill the seats, Erickson said. "There's no reason in having senators (who will only attend the last) three meetings."
David Martin and Robert Wyche were sworn in as assistant election commissioners.
Although it seems the senate is filling openings, several slots remain on university-wide committees for SA representatives, according to Vice President To.
"I'm still desperately seeking people to fill committees," she said. "I'm very close to slicing my wrists and sitting in a warm bath."
She added that committees are looking for members, and urged senators once again to either sit on the committees or find students who are interested in serving on them.