I found the news article about the DASB Senate’s decision against Euphrat funding to be premature, as the DASB Finance Committee requested that the item be brought back immediately for further consideration.
The DASB Senate is aware of the value of art on campus, and realizes the importance of the services the Euphrat provides students from all across campus. At times, motions fail on the senate floor because the body feels the amount of money or the specific items it is going towards is inappropriate, not because they don’t see the merits of the request.
A senator could vote down a motion for a small allocation in hopes that the project will receive more funding. The motion to reconsider gives the body an immediate second chance to discuss the item and amend it to satisfactorily express their will. Continued motions on the same item (i.e. reconsidering more than once) are determined as dilatory (repetitive) and the meeting chair can use discretion as to which forum discussion and action can occur more effectively; in the case it is the DASB Finance Committee.
The purpose of the Finance Committee is to discuss, research, edit budget requests and do all the "groundwork" in presenting the item to the larger DASB body. The efforts of the committee allow the Senate to only consider items that have been previously given much thought and attention.
The request for Euphrat funding will appear before the senate floor again on Wednesday, Nov. 16.
Anna Callahan
DASB President
