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Grievance filed against Sen. Gulley
The Commentator's editor took action when an ASUO senator voted after being asked to abstain
by Jobetta Hedelman | Copy Editor
The editor in chief of a conservative journal at the University filed a grievance against Student Senator Nate Gulley for his failure to abstain when voting on a matter in which he has a direct interest. The request in question passed by a single vote.
Ted Niedermeyer of The Oregon Commentator said he filed the grievance because Gulley twice voted in the affirmative to give the United States Student Association $2,000 from Senate surplus money to fund a conference at which Gulley will be a delegate.
"I'm just curious why nearly half of the delegation are Senators who are sitting in this room," Niedermeyer said. "That makes the process seem less than fair."
He then requested that all the Senators who would be attending the conference abstain on the next vote.
Sen. Gulley, along with Sens. Chii-San SunOwen, Jennifer Lleras and ASUO Vice President Juliana Guzman and seven other students, are attending the USSA's annual legislative conference this weekend in Washington, D.C.
USSA representative Lisa Harris said money from the surplus would go to pay conference registration fees and hotel costs and added that the each student who is going to the conference has been asked to contribute $150 of his or her own money.
During the discussion, several Senators expressed concern that the process of selecting delegates may have discriminated against seniors.
Harris said that a student's year in school was a factor in the decisions because the USSA wanted to send students who could bring back what they learned and use it to advocate on campus next year.
At the conference, delegates will learn about issues that directly affect all students, such as Pell Grants, federal loans and other issues relating to education funding, Guzman said.
The first vote on the request failed 7-8-2. Sens. Lleras and SunOwen abstained, but Gulley voted. As Vice President, Guzman would normally serve as the tie-breaker but abstained, leaving Senate President Sara Hamilton to cast the deciding vote. Hamilton voted against the request.
Ted Niedermeyer of The Oregon Commentator said he filed the grievance because Gulley twice voted in the affirmative to give the United States Student Association $2,000 from Senate surplus money to fund a conference at which Gulley will be a delegate.
"I'm just curious why nearly half of the delegation are Senators who are sitting in this room," Niedermeyer said. "That makes the process seem less than fair."
He then requested that all the Senators who would be attending the conference abstain on the next vote.
Sen. Gulley, along with Sens. Chii-San SunOwen, Jennifer Lleras and ASUO Vice President Juliana Guzman and seven other students, are attending the USSA's annual legislative conference this weekend in Washington, D.C.
USSA representative Lisa Harris said money from the surplus would go to pay conference registration fees and hotel costs and added that the each student who is going to the conference has been asked to contribute $150 of his or her own money.
During the discussion, several Senators expressed concern that the process of selecting delegates may have discriminated against seniors.
Harris said that a student's year in school was a factor in the decisions because the USSA wanted to send students who could bring back what they learned and use it to advocate on campus next year.
At the conference, delegates will learn about issues that directly affect all students, such as Pell Grants, federal loans and other issues relating to education funding, Guzman said.
The first vote on the request failed 7-8-2. Sens. Lleras and SunOwen abstained, but Gulley voted. As Vice President, Guzman would normally serve as the tie-breaker but abstained, leaving Senate President Sara Hamilton to cast the deciding vote. Hamilton voted against the request.
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