The Undergraduate Student Government Senate censored USG President Justin Zartman last night for making public statements about reforming the University Park Allocation Committee. Zartman vetoed a Senate proposal last month to change the way UPAC funds the Distinguished Speaker Series (DSS).

The nearly 30-minute debate became heated at times and one senator left the room visibly upset before the final vote was taken.

Town Sen. Rob Michaels invoked Article 5.1.3 of the USG Constitution, which states that "the president shall speak as a representative of the student body" at University Park, but is "subject to the censor of the Senate."

The debate focused on whether Zartman or the Senate has a greater mandate to speak on behalf of USG for the student body.

Zartman paced the floor as he addressed the Senate. He said he vetoed the proposal because it was not in the best interest of students. Michaels said the students he has spoken to are overwhelmingly in favor of it.

Town Sen. Jason Covener said the censor restricts Zartman from saying he is speaking on behalf of the student body on issues involving UPAC reform.

"This lets us do our job," Covener said. "This doesn't restrict him from speaking, not necessarily, as USG president. It restricts him from saying he is the USG president speaking on behalf of the student body."

Zartman said if the same proposal is brought up again, he would veto it again. He was met with a short round of applause from the back of the room.

"How long do you think you can hold on to the tiny one-third you need to uphold the veto?" Covener asked in response.

Zartman said he is for UPAC reform, but that it has to be non-partisan. He said it was Janet Reno's speech last month that brought this issue to light in the Senate. The senators should not just target DSS, but other organizations that get lump sum funding from UPAC, he added.

"It (Senate) doesn't represent YAF (Young Americans for Freedom), or College Republicans, it represents all undergraduate students on campus," Zartman said.

Town Sen. T.J. Kokolis said he resented Zartman's inference that the president represents student concerns on this issue more effectively than the senators do.

"From who I talk to, this DSS thing is absurd," Kokolis said. "Why don't you think our ears aren't out there?"

Senate President Sean Clark said the veto was irresponsible and the censor would correct it. Clark noted that though the original plan passed by a 13-11-1 vote, it passed nonetheless.

"It was the will of the Senate and the will of the students," Clark said.

Town Sen. Matt Trupkovich said after the meeting that the exercise was a waste of time.

"That was the most pointless thing we could have done to better the lives of students here," he said.

Zartman said he and Vice President Amanda Hudnall are the ones who represent all undergraduate students.

"The censor is not going to stop me from representing students," Zartman said. "It doesn't stop my job."