Spring Break
Union bills pass in referendum
by Jillian Wagner
News Editor
News | 5/20/08
Posted online at 6:49 AM EST on 5/20/08
/ Last updated at 6:01 AM EST on 5/20/08
The Student Bill of Rights and a constitutional amendment regarding finances passed in referendum in the Student Union election May 1.
A total of 1084 students voted on the issue of passing the Bill of Rights and 89.02 percent voted in favor of the bill. The constitutional amendment for finances passed with a 90.2 percent majority, according to the Union Web site.
The vote was intended to see "exactly how students felt about our articulation of student rights," Director of Community Development Ryan McElhaney '10 wrote in an e-mail to the Justice.
"While I did expect a majority of students to stand behind the [Bill of Rights], I didn't expect such an overwhelming majority and I think this speaks to the need for a document like this to be incorporated into University policy. … The vote totals will be very important when it comes to showing the administration how important this document is to the student body," said Union President Jason Gray '10.
"I will be working to get the University to incorporate the Student Bill of Rights into the University's governing structure and to improve Rights and Responsibilities to accurately reflect the rights that students deserve," said Gray.
According to McElhaney, forums, discussions and other events are planned for next semester to inform students about the Bill of Rights current progress and to allow students to clarify what they would like to see included in tthe bill, in order to further refine the bill. "One of the most important parts of this process that seems to be forgotten is how much of a community effort it was to create, disseminate, edit and pass this bill of rights," McElhaney said.
He added, "I have worked closely with different grad students as well as undergrads so that it is understood that these rights should extend to all students, and thus all students need to be a part of the process."
The other issue on the referendum, the constitutional amendment for finances, which, according to Gray, "will improve our financial system, by allowing clubs to access more money in a more efficient way," has several components.
A total of 1084 students voted on the issue of passing the Bill of Rights and 89.02 percent voted in favor of the bill. The constitutional amendment for finances passed with a 90.2 percent majority, according to the Union Web site.
The vote was intended to see "exactly how students felt about our articulation of student rights," Director of Community Development Ryan McElhaney '10 wrote in an e-mail to the Justice.
"While I did expect a majority of students to stand behind the [Bill of Rights], I didn't expect such an overwhelming majority and I think this speaks to the need for a document like this to be incorporated into University policy. … The vote totals will be very important when it comes to showing the administration how important this document is to the student body," said Union President Jason Gray '10.
"I will be working to get the University to incorporate the Student Bill of Rights into the University's governing structure and to improve Rights and Responsibilities to accurately reflect the rights that students deserve," said Gray.
According to McElhaney, forums, discussions and other events are planned for next semester to inform students about the Bill of Rights current progress and to allow students to clarify what they would like to see included in tthe bill, in order to further refine the bill. "One of the most important parts of this process that seems to be forgotten is how much of a community effort it was to create, disseminate, edit and pass this bill of rights," McElhaney said.
He added, "I have worked closely with different grad students as well as undergrads so that it is understood that these rights should extend to all students, and thus all students need to be a part of the process."
The other issue on the referendum, the constitutional amendment for finances, which, according to Gray, "will improve our financial system, by allowing clubs to access more money in a more efficient way," has several components.
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