Confusion abounded at Monday night's Association of Residence Hall Students meeting about voting procedures.

When Pollock Halls President Sherri Shields moved to allocate money for an upcoming speaker, the vote was 10-6-2 in favor. This caused a heated debate over whether a simple majority or a two-thirds majority was needed to pass general business.

East Halls President Scott Battaglia said he assumed ARHS used the two-thirds rule because East Halls Residence Association used this rule.

Battaglia said ARHS members have often used Robert's Rules of Order -- a parliamentary procedure book -- for reference and may have not been aware which majority they needed to pass general business.

"Student organizations may use Robert's to supplement, but not override, their organization's constitutions," said Joseph S. Milazzo II, South Halls president.

ARHS President Melissa Pressler said the confusion might have emerged because members have different editions of the ARHS constitution.

ARHS does not rely on parliamentary procedures as heavily as other organizations, which adds to the confusion, Pressler said. She said whatever happens, most past ARHS votes will not be affected because votes usually pass by a large margin.

"Most (of the close votes) don't matter anyway because the event has already occurred," Pressler said.