ASPSU senate fails to meet quorum the fourth time around

    For the fourth time this year, the ASPSU senate has failed to meet quorum, now having failed to meet quorum since July 2006.

    Despite Associated Students of Portland State University adviser Natalee Webb’s recommendation to not suspend Robert’s Rules of Order, the accepted rules of parliamentary procedure for public meetings, the senate agreed that the senate is allowed to take measures to make quorum in an emergency.

    The senate approved four nominations by ASPSU President Courtney Morse. The appointed were Julian Jenkins, Brian Salvador, Daniel Lyons and an unidentified student.

    Although this meeting occurred, it is unclear whether or not this could be considered the first meeting. If this meeting was in fact the first meeting, the ASPSU constitution states that the Student Fee Committee Guideline revisions must be discussed in the first meeting – failure to do so would violate the constitution.

    Due to the Judicial Board also failing to make quorum, this matter could not be voted on and interpreted by the J-Board.

    As a result, all appointments must be ratified and voted on again during the next meeting, which is expected to meet quorum.

    If the SFC Guidelines are presented in the first meeting, then the revisions must be approved within 30 days if they are to be changed before they are presented to PSU President Daniel Bernstine.

    SFC Chair Madeline Enos presented the SFC Guideline revisions. The guidelines have not been revised since June 2005.

    In one of the most noted revisions is a motion that removes the need to have a three-fourths majority approve budget revisions from groups that request to increase their budget by more than 25 percent. One of the most controversial matters seen by the student senate last year, the J-Board determined that the budget increase was unconstitutional.

    Senate Chairman and Vice President Jesse Bufton said the senate is supposed to meet two times a month, and has failed to meet quorum once. The senate will discuss and present the SFC Guidelines during the first fall meeting.