Senate argues over plans

By HOPE CALDWELL
Collegian Staff Writer

Prior to the actions regarding the Undergraduate Student Government Senate President Josh Bokee at the senate meeting Tuesday night, emotions stirred about vital information that could be used in upcoming USG elections.

The problem concerned information from the Association of Big Ten Students Conference held last weekend at the Penn State Scanticon Conference Center Hotel.

Melissa Richards, an ABTS director, had the information that focused on plans for innovative student programs. She and her staff devised a plan to distribute the information, but certain USG senators disapproved of the way the information was handled.

Richards said she wanted to devise an easy plan for students at the University to obtain the information. Her original plan would allow a person to sign out the information for a one to two week time period. Her second plan gave permission to sign the information out for one to two days. The final plan, which was accepted, will allow a person to look through the information in the office and make photocopies of desired sections.

In front of the senate she said, "For the past couple days I've felt personally harassed by members of senate," adding that she had enough of the entire situation, before leaving the room in tears.

Bokee then assured senators that the problem had been resolved. Town Senator Mark Sosnowsky, who attended the conference sporadically throughout the weekend, explained that Richards conducted the conference so well that everyone wanted the information. But, he also thought it was necessary for the information to be made more available.

Former USG President Chris Saunders gave a short speech during the open student forum, and he warned senators to avoid harassing Richards to attain information for their campaign platforms.

"Everyone wants the Big Ten information for elections -- let's just say it," Saunders said.

After the senate meeting Richards said the plan was a compromise because her department just finished the biggest project of the year, the conference. She also said she wanted to protect student funds from going towards the copying of information for campaigning.