The Student Association tabled a proposed amendment to its financial code on Monday evening that would mandate presence of an assembly representative at each event funded by the Student Activity Fee because of several questions as to the bill’s language.

The bill’s authors, representative Jason Kassoy and Chair of Civic Engagement Adam Jones, said the mandate would help the association during budget hearings to determine which events should receive funding because a representative would be able to report on the event.

‘What this amendment would do is give more power to the assembly,’ Jones said.

The proposal requires each assembly representative to attend at least one event. The number of required events for each representative would be calculated by dividing the number of events by the membership of the assembly.

Student organizations would also be required to reserve one complimentary ticket for the assembly member attending the event, Jones said.

Many in the association brought up technical problems with the proposal’s language and details that may have been left out.

‘This is one more example of the assembly trying to take on the role of the Finance Board,’ said Parliamentarian Ryan Doyle.

The Finance Board is the part of SA that deliberates and recommends funding for student organizations that apply for money from the Student Activity Fee.

Assembly representative Joy LaChelle Ingraham said the Finance Board has not been comprised of diverse people, and ‘I think it’s good to have a few of us who know what’s going on.’

A motion was made to table the bill until it was developed further. The motion passed.

Later, debate arose when Students in Free Enterprise, an organization that participates in several volunteer events throughout the year, requested $2,857.24 from the Special Programming Fund. The money would be for supplies such as bedding, clothing and textbooks for SFE’s volunteer work at Chadwick House, a local shelter that helps abused women get back on their feet and aids in their education.

Comptroller Michael Brannen said the Finance Board had decided to fund the request in full, but Doyle said the SA codes do not allow funding for items such as books and clothing.

Board of Elections and Membership Chair Marlene Goldenberg said the organization needs those items in order to do its job.

An extensive debate followed, with association members questioning whether the volunteer work would benefit the university and students, and if the event could legally be funded by SA.

‘If we pass this, would we be in violation of our codes?’ President Wayne Horton asked Doyle.

‘It’s open to interpretation,’ Doyle said.

After the debate, Horton repeated his question: ‘Doyle, again, if we fund this, would you say … this is in violation of our constitution?’

‘Yes,’ Doyle replied.

The assembly voted not to fund the event, and also rejected another SIFE request for $514.66 for supplies for a volunteer event at a local elementary school, which the Finance Board had also recommended that SA fund in full.

Toward the end of the meeting, Judicial Review Board Chair Eric Morrissette reported that an assembly representative had accused Brannen of violating parliamentary procedure, prompting Morrissette to file charges against him.

A hearing has been planned to determine the validity of these accusations. Doyle suggested that not too much detail be given yet so debate within SA would not ensue.

When Goldenberg took the lectern for her report, she released deadlines and other dates for the upcoming SA elections.

Petitions for those intending to run for president or comptroller will be made available Oct. 1. The petitions will then be due Oct. 23, with debates scheduled to take place Nov. 6. Elections will begin Nov. 13 and are slated to end Nov. 17, unless 10 percent of the undergraduate population has not voted by then, in which case they will be extended to Nov. 18, she said.

In other SA news, Recorder Brandon Mathieu was elected by the assembly to a position as student liaison to the Syracuse University Board of Trustees.

Published on September 18, 2006 at 12:00 pm