One-third of the way into fall semester, Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Senate has yet to find someone to function as parliamentarian during its meetings.
The function of a parliamentarian is to advise USG members on proper procedures.
Matt Midles, USG's current parliamentarian, is unable to attend the majority of this semester's Senate meetings due to conflicts with his class schedule.
East Halls Sen. Julia Graham said a parliamentarian's presence at Senate meetings is important because this year's Senate is less experienced with parliamentary procedure than last year's.
"We are dealing with a lot of new people," Graham said. "People are still learning."
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Midles will retain his position as parliamentarian, while another parliamentarian may substitute for him at Senate meetings, Senate President Bridget Van Osten said. The substitute parliamentarian would oversee the remainder of this semester's Senate meetings, while Midles continues to advise senators during his free time.
Van Osten said she is currently looking for a qualified and unbiased applicant to fill the position.
To search for a substitute parliamentarian, Van Osten said she wrote a letter to the president of the Penn State Model United Nations and also to the Penn State debate team about the opening.
The lack of a parliamentarian at Senate meetings was not affecting Senate's efficiency much, Van Osten said.
"I think the Senate is doing well without it," she said.
Though Midles said he feels a parliamentarian attending Senate meetings is preferable, he said he is comfortable with USG Vice President Kris Ankarlo running Senate meetings.
Town Sen. Mike Gallo said a parliamentarian is necessary to regulate Senate meetings because Robert's Rules of Order, the guidelines for parliamentary procedure, are left to interpretation sometimes. However, they are not so open to interpretation that they can be abused or changed in meaning, he added.
"Sometimes it's hard to apply black and white rules to a real situation," Gallo said.
The work Midles has done off of the Senate floor has benefited senators, Van Osten said.
"He's been valuable to everyone on Senate," she said.
During a weekend retreat attended by senators, Midles helped many new senators learn Robert's Rules of Order, Graham said.
Since the retreat, four new senators have been appointed to fill vacant seats, Graham said.
One person has expressed interest in serving as a replacement parliamentarian, but several senators told Van Osten the individual might have a conflict of interest, she said.
Van Osten would not say who the individual interested in substituting for Midles is, or which senators came to her with concerns about that person. She would also not say what the nature of the individual's conflict of interest is.
Gallo recommended Jim Flook, Senate staff coordinator, to substitute for Midles during Senate meetings.
Flook served as parliamentarian to Senate last semester, and is well versed in Robert's Rules of Order, Gallo said.
Flook would be perfect for the job, Gallo said, adding that he has no idea why he has not been appointed.
Van Osten would not say whether Flook is the interested person with a possible conflict of interest.
