ASG Recap: Week Four Edition

Senate talks recording meetings, pushy candidatesMeghan McLaughlinThe Santa ClaraOctober 19, 2017Amidst a larger discussion on possibly prohibiting recordings of Associated Student Government (ASG) meetings by outside sources, the main focus was on whether or not to pay media services to film meetings.Members of the Santa Clara community were also given the opportunity to comment on this discussion at the week four meeting.“This is to discuss solutions so that we remain transparent and allow the First Amendment to be exercised,” ProTempore Sam McNeal said.McNeal and CSL Staff Advisor for ASG Tedd Vanadilok pointed out that Santa Clara is a private institution still bound by the First Amendment, but the university can also encourage and enforce it in different ways.It was mentioned that recordings could be taken by media services to then be archived in the library, only available to those with a Santa Clara account.If any person in the room of the meeting objects to being recorded, no recording will be allowed.“We’re here to represent our constituents, we’re here to represent the student body, whether we’re senators or members of the judicial branch, whether we’re members of the executive branch, government is meant to be for the people, it’s meant to be open,” At-Large Senator for Mental Health Bjorn Thyrring said.It was suggested that these measures on restricting recordings of ASG meetings not be applied to the bylaws until the following academic year so future members of ASG will be aware of the implications of ASG membership. Therefore, this potential bylaw change will not affect current members.“The perception matters,” sophomore Senator David Warne reminded ASG.In order for any action to be taken on this subject, ASG must vote on the change with a super majority, or two thirds of the vote. This discussion will continue at the week six meeting.Put on the table was a proposal for a change in the bylaws to prohibit ASG candidates from approaching students with their personal electronic device and asking them to vote on it during election season.Additionally, ASG candidates cannot request that students go on their respective devices and vote while they are present. Criteria for personal electronic devices include laptops, tablets and smartphones.Mike Nuttall, both the Associate Director of the Ignition Center for Jesuit Education and a member of the Sustaining Excellence Committee, presented to the ASG Senate an update on what the Sustaining Excellence Committee has accomplished in Phase 2 of the project.This phase is focused on the implementation of the ideas produced in Phase 1 of last academic year. One idea explored was replacing the six-session Summer Orientation program with one session in the fall.The staff in the Center for Student Involvement implements orientation and will continue to pursue this proposal.The ASG Senate will meet again during week six on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Williman Room in Benson.Contact Meghan McLaughlin at mmclaughlin@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.