For more on campus issues, see Well Armed Sheep.
There's a rather interesting note up in the Union. It's calling an emergency meeting of the Student Association Senate for tonight at 7:00 p.m., to be held in a garage just off campus (3301 N. Cramer), with the stated purpose of obtaining legal counsel. Rumors are flying about what triggered this particular meeting, but I will wait until I get reliable sources before commenting further.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Trying again
For more on the state of the UWM campus, visit Well Armed Sheep.
The Union Policy Board is going to try once again to meet, but this time they are going for a time when college students are likely to be awake. So mark your calendars for November 3 at 2:00 p.m.
As there have been a number of office issues, the first meeting (whenever it happens) is likely to be a fun-filled event with many tempers flaring over seemingly inconsequential issues. But even if it doesn't, I will be sure to post what happens.
The Union Policy Board is going to try once again to meet, but this time they are going for a time when college students are likely to be awake. So mark your calendars for November 3 at 2:00 p.m.
As there have been a number of office issues, the first meeting (whenever it happens) is likely to be a fun-filled event with many tempers flaring over seemingly inconsequential issues. But even if it doesn't, I will be sure to post what happens.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Come out, ye scurvy dogs!
For more information about the UWM campus community see the rest of Well Armed Sheep.
In My last entry, I promised you that I would post a full report about what happened at the Union Policy Board meeting at 9:00 a.m. on October 6. Here it is:
We sat around until 9:21, at which point the roll was taken, and only two members were present: Jesse Dercks (Sandburg Halls Administrative Council president) and Michele Nelson. The three members chosen from administration were excused, but the other three listed members from the student side were conspicuously absent. It's amazing that the absent students (Russ Rueden, Robert Stueber and Robert Grover) were all three student members who were part of last year's UPB.
With lack of quorum, the meeting never took place. This is an infectious disease that used to be limited to the Senate and the Court; now it has migrated to entities such as UPB.
There is more to this situation than meets the eye. When I find out, I will post it here.
In My last entry, I promised you that I would post a full report about what happened at the Union Policy Board meeting at 9:00 a.m. on October 6. Here it is:
We sat around until 9:21, at which point the roll was taken, and only two members were present: Jesse Dercks (Sandburg Halls Administrative Council president) and Michele Nelson. The three members chosen from administration were excused, but the other three listed members from the student side were conspicuously absent. It's amazing that the absent students (Russ Rueden, Robert Stueber and Robert Grover) were all three student members who were part of last year's UPB.
With lack of quorum, the meeting never took place. This is an infectious disease that used to be limited to the Senate and the Court; now it has migrated to entities such as UPB.
There is more to this situation than meets the eye. When I find out, I will post it here.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Union Policy Board -- now at 9:00 a.m. for your convenience...
This is just one of many comments about the happenings at UWM available at Well Armed Sheep. Please use this link to see the rest.
For those organizations with office troubles that have been waiting to be heard by the Union Policy Board, the good news is that you will have your chance soon. The bad news is that this chance will occur Friday, October 6 at 9:00 a.m. in the UWM Union.
When it comes to scheduling, early Friday morning is usually defined by either sleeping off the night before, studying for the Monday after, or getting all that stuff done you don't have any other time for. If I were scheduling to have the lowest student input, Friday at 9:00 would be one of my top choices.
I will post a full report about what happens at that meeting here.
For those organizations with office troubles that have been waiting to be heard by the Union Policy Board, the good news is that you will have your chance soon. The bad news is that this chance will occur Friday, October 6 at 9:00 a.m. in the UWM Union.
When it comes to scheduling, early Friday morning is usually defined by either sleeping off the night before, studying for the Monday after, or getting all that stuff done you don't have any other time for. If I were scheduling to have the lowest student input, Friday at 9:00 would be one of my top choices.
I will post a full report about what happens at that meeting here.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Just when you thought there was nothing there...
Remember when I asked if anyone was going to try to come in at 6:00 and run the meeting that was never announced? Well, that's what happened. Despite the fact that the Fireside Lounge was reset to its original configuration, the Student Senate came in, pushed some chairs around and approved everything.
Actually, "approved" is a bit of a misnomer, since there wasn't much going on beside Speaker Rueden asking if there were any objections to the things presented, and pushing them through. While this makes for short meetings, it defeats the work of the Senate as a deliberative body, where ideas are given a full hearing to weed out the bad ones. Here the bad ideas stayed without objection, even to the point where the Senate Allocation Committee bylaws now require the desecration of its leaders.
People who are monitoring this are encouraged to report any news they find.
Actually, "approved" is a bit of a misnomer, since there wasn't much going on beside Speaker Rueden asking if there were any objections to the things presented, and pushing them through. While this makes for short meetings, it defeats the work of the Senate as a deliberative body, where ideas are given a full hearing to weed out the bad ones. Here the bad ideas stayed without objection, even to the point where the Senate Allocation Committee bylaws now require the desecration of its leaders.
People who are monitoring this are encouraged to report any news they find.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Vanishing Student Association
The meeting of the Student Association Senate, scheduled with Reservations and Event Planning Services for 3:00 p.m. today, has been canceled. This is despite the fact that the SA website lists the meeting as beginning at 6:00 p.m, not 3:00. Anyone who has information about whether people arrive at 6:00 to a room that will likely be reset to its original configuration by then is encouraged to share.
In any case, the agenda for this meeting (linked to the above tag) listed the approval of the Senate Allocation Committee (SAC) bylaws as an item to be done. Although a rewrite is promised, there has yet to be any assurance that the most onerous provisions are being removed. These would include the large amount of documentation that a student organization would need to provide in order to receive and retain funds, the provision that student organizations get renewed at the discretion of the SAC Chair and Vice Chair (the document says "desecration", but I don't think that's what they really want -- if they do, I have goat's blood ready to smear on both of them), and the attempt to divorce themselves from Student Court oversight (not that it matters if the Court will never get enough members to function, but it's still good to at least pretend there is an overseeing body).
By my count, the Court is non-functional, the Senate is canceling meetings, so that leaves only one branch of Student Government that at least attempts to function. That's a recipe for disaster if I've ever heard of one.
In any case, the agenda for this meeting (linked to the above tag) listed the approval of the Senate Allocation Committee (SAC) bylaws as an item to be done. Although a rewrite is promised, there has yet to be any assurance that the most onerous provisions are being removed. These would include the large amount of documentation that a student organization would need to provide in order to receive and retain funds, the provision that student organizations get renewed at the discretion of the SAC Chair and Vice Chair (the document says "desecration", but I don't think that's what they really want -- if they do, I have goat's blood ready to smear on both of them), and the attempt to divorce themselves from Student Court oversight (not that it matters if the Court will never get enough members to function, but it's still good to at least pretend there is an overseeing body).
By my count, the Court is non-functional, the Senate is canceling meetings, so that leaves only one branch of Student Government that at least attempts to function. That's a recipe for disaster if I've ever heard of one.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Haven't we seen this before?
Despite the referendum to expand the number of Student Court justices, we once again have too few available to do anything. Amazing how this happens just as there is a serious challenge to the power of a student governmental body that needs the Court attention. There are plans to deal with this crisis; more as they unfold.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Update and Question of the Day
Well, in response to the last update (see this article for more details), there will be two session of a "Student Organization Town Hall Forum" this Tuesday September 12. One will be at noon, and the other at 5:00 p.m. Both are to be held in the former Student Association office, Room 363.
This is certainly an improvement, but there are a few things that need to be said. First, if this is meant to be a fulfillment of the legislation requiring a town hall meeting every semester, why is it listed as a "Student Organization Town Hall Meeting"? I thought the legislation was to provide dialogue between the students and their representatives. What do the student organizations have to do with this? Second, if Student Association wants to help the organizations, why don't they just remand 363 back to the Union Policy Board for division into more student office space? (On another note, I can't find any mention of if or when UPB ceded that space from their control in the first place.) And finally, what's the idea of holding it on the same day as an important primary election for several offices, such as Sheriff and Attorney General? Are they trying to depress the turnout? Now that you know about it, feel free to attend yourself and post your comments about it here.
Question of the Day
Why is the ashtray that's under the overhang between EMS and Physics located inside the 30-foot no-smoking zone of the door leading to the 24-hour computer lab? As readers may know, I have thought the whole process has been pushed through without sufficient student input, and even then, the 38% of students who opposed this in the survey that was taken form a substantial minority that needs to be adressed. But now that the rules are in place, shouldn't the people who made them stop creating situations that encourage violations?
This is certainly an improvement, but there are a few things that need to be said. First, if this is meant to be a fulfillment of the legislation requiring a town hall meeting every semester, why is it listed as a "Student Organization Town Hall Meeting"? I thought the legislation was to provide dialogue between the students and their representatives. What do the student organizations have to do with this? Second, if Student Association wants to help the organizations, why don't they just remand 363 back to the Union Policy Board for division into more student office space? (On another note, I can't find any mention of if or when UPB ceded that space from their control in the first place.) And finally, what's the idea of holding it on the same day as an important primary election for several offices, such as Sheriff and Attorney General? Are they trying to depress the turnout? Now that you know about it, feel free to attend yourself and post your comments about it here.
Question of the Day
Why is the ashtray that's under the overhang between EMS and Physics located inside the 30-foot no-smoking zone of the door leading to the 24-hour computer lab? As readers may know, I have thought the whole process has been pushed through without sufficient student input, and even then, the 38% of students who opposed this in the survey that was taken form a substantial minority that needs to be adressed. But now that the rules are in place, shouldn't the people who made them stop creating situations that encourage violations?
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Doesn't SA believe in following its own legislation?
Whatever happened to this?
Senate 2005 - 2006
S06 – 019
SA Town Hall Forum Accountability and Access Act
Author: Senator Brostoff
Sponsors: Senator R. Duncan
Whereas the Student Association of the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee is the representative body of the student body; and
Whereas, the Student Association is responsible to the student body to help address their concerns and problems; and
Whereas, the Student Association should be accessible to the student body at large at all times; and
Whereas, the Student Association exists to serve the needs and interests of the student body; and
Whereas, the needs of the student body can best be expressed with an open dialogue between the students at their representatives;
Therefore be it resolved that the Student Association host a town hall forum with the expressed intent to receive input from the student body at large at least once a semester, and the aforementioned forum will be separate from the State Of the Students Address (SOSA), and
Be it further resolved that the Fall semester forum occur in September or October and the Spring semester forum occur in March or April, and
Be it further resolved that both the officers of the Legislative and Executive branch must participate in the forum, and
Be it further resolved that the Deputy Speaker of the Senate (or designee) be charged with organizing the forum including logistical support, scheduling, marketing, and ensuring participation by both the Legislative branch and the Executive branch.
I have been assured by people that this was passed and signed by SA, yet the proscribed Town Hall events never happened. What is going on here?
Senate 2005 - 2006
S06 – 019
SA Town Hall Forum Accountability and Access Act
Author: Senator Brostoff
Sponsors: Senator R. Duncan
Whereas the Student Association of the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee is the representative body of the student body; and
Whereas, the Student Association is responsible to the student body to help address their concerns and problems; and
Whereas, the Student Association should be accessible to the student body at large at all times; and
Whereas, the Student Association exists to serve the needs and interests of the student body; and
Whereas, the needs of the student body can best be expressed with an open dialogue between the students at their representatives;
Therefore be it resolved that the Student Association host a town hall forum with the expressed intent to receive input from the student body at large at least once a semester, and the aforementioned forum will be separate from the State Of the Students Address (SOSA), and
Be it further resolved that the Fall semester forum occur in September or October and the Spring semester forum occur in March or April, and
Be it further resolved that both the officers of the Legislative and Executive branch must participate in the forum, and
Be it further resolved that the Deputy Speaker of the Senate (or designee) be charged with organizing the forum including logistical support, scheduling, marketing, and ensuring participation by both the Legislative branch and the Executive branch.
I have been assured by people that this was passed and signed by SA, yet the proscribed Town Hall events never happened. What is going on here?
Friday, August 04, 2006
What's really going on?
Given my limited time to deal with this blog, I am looking for others who have the information that the UWM campus needs to understand the truth. So if you see other people here, you'll know why.
Monday, March 13, 2006
So many targets, so little time...
Well, there are many things that need to be mentioned, but I don't have enough time to give them the full attention they deserve. So like the current (drive-by) media, I will simply mention each of them and get to more details when I can...
1) SB 329 has now passed the Senate. In case you haven't been paying attention, this bill of attainder against UWM allows the City of Milwaukee to set aside one parking space near campus for residents only for every parking space we build on campus. So why should we build more parking now?
2) The Student Association right now is in need of effective leadership. The petition to remove Alderman D'Amato seems to be going nowhere. The events board in front of Union 363 (home office for SA until June 1) is both poorly done and of questionable accuracy. The Student Court, which is supposed to be the co-equal third branch of student government, is in limbo because they can't keep three justices in place.
3) The smoking ban has been sent to the Union Policy Board, where they were asked to get air quality samples to see if there is really any problem with the 8th Note maintaining smoking. My guess is that the UPB will ignore the request, but stranger things have been known to occur
4) There is still no election procedure in place. Given that the election is supposed to happen soon, the fact that no nomination papers are out is scary.
I'll get back to more later.
1) SB 329 has now passed the Senate. In case you haven't been paying attention, this bill of attainder against UWM allows the City of Milwaukee to set aside one parking space near campus for residents only for every parking space we build on campus. So why should we build more parking now?
2) The Student Association right now is in need of effective leadership. The petition to remove Alderman D'Amato seems to be going nowhere. The events board in front of Union 363 (home office for SA until June 1) is both poorly done and of questionable accuracy. The Student Court, which is supposed to be the co-equal third branch of student government, is in limbo because they can't keep three justices in place.
3) The smoking ban has been sent to the Union Policy Board, where they were asked to get air quality samples to see if there is really any problem with the 8th Note maintaining smoking. My guess is that the UPB will ignore the request, but stranger things have been known to occur
4) There is still no election procedure in place. Given that the election is supposed to happen soon, the fact that no nomination papers are out is scary.
I'll get back to more later.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Beginning to Recall...
The following e-mail has been distributed to UWM students:
UWM students are considering the recall of Alderman Michael D'Amato and we need your help! This is an effort headed by officials of the UWM Student Association to protect students, our rights and our pocketbooks.
Alderman D’Amato is responsible for Friday morning street sweeping – which in 2003 alone resulted in over 13,000 cars being towed – costing over $1.5 million in tickets and tow fees!
Have you ever received a parking ticket? You’re not alone! Last year over 248,000 parking tickets were issued around the UWM campus – totaling almost $5 million in fines! The Alderman is the only one that can change this – Ald. D’Amato refuses!
Even worse, he wants to rezone the UWM neighborhood to prohibit students from living within 400 feet of each other.
Bottom line – the students need an Alderman that supports students.
We need students like YOU!
If you are interested in a possible recall, please attend an organizing session at one of the following times:
1) Sunday, February 19, 2006 at 6:00 or 7:00 PM
Location: UWM Union Ballroom
2) Monday, February 20, 2006 at 4:00 or 5:00 PM
Location: UWM Union Room 191
Please email us for more information!
Thank you!
Alex Walters
UWM Student Association
2200 East Kenwood Blvd.
Milwaukee, WI 53211
Ph: 414-229-4366
uwmstudents@gmail.com
UWM students are considering the recall of Alderman Michael D'Amato and we need your help! This is an effort headed by officials of the UWM Student Association to protect students, our rights and our pocketbooks.
Alderman D’Amato is responsible for Friday morning street sweeping – which in 2003 alone resulted in over 13,000 cars being towed – costing over $1.5 million in tickets and tow fees!
Have you ever received a parking ticket? You’re not alone! Last year over 248,000 parking tickets were issued around the UWM campus – totaling almost $5 million in fines! The Alderman is the only one that can change this – Ald. D’Amato refuses!
Even worse, he wants to rezone the UWM neighborhood to prohibit students from living within 400 feet of each other.
Bottom line – the students need an Alderman that supports students.
We need students like YOU!
If you are interested in a possible recall, please attend an organizing session at one of the following times:
1) Sunday, February 19, 2006 at 6:00 or 7:00 PM
Location: UWM Union Ballroom
2) Monday, February 20, 2006 at 4:00 or 5:00 PM
Location: UWM Union Room 191
Please email us for more information!
Thank you!
Alex Walters
UWM Student Association
2200 East Kenwood Blvd.
Milwaukee, WI 53211
Ph: 414-229-4366
uwmstudents@gmail.com
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Heads up
Flyers have started appearing on campus recruiting people to recall Alderman Mike D'Amato. It appears as though the Student Association may be planning to spearhead a recall effort. This would be one of the more ambitious effort to date. These flyers ask people to email annya@uwm.edu to volunteer.
Friday, February 10, 2006
Raises Concern...
What planet do the UW Regents live on in order to raise the salary of the UW-Madison Chancellor by $56,000? If they want to improve the climate in the system, they can take half of that and pay me as an advisor to cut fraud and waste. Good luck getting that proposal through...
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Cameras in the Union
Whose bright idea was is to put cameras in the Union, and how much are we paying for them? Also, looking into the recesses where the cameras are held, they are either very small (and hidden in the back of the recesses) or are not installed yet. Either way, there is cause for concern.
Friday, February 03, 2006
What Were They Thinking?
When the Student Association held an event to make students more aware of the organizations on campus, they offered pizza to those who showed up. This, however, lasted about a half hour, and the event quickly fizzled after that. Apparently, the SA didn't think there would be all that many people showing up, so they didn't plan for much food.
Here's the question I have: What kind of organization plans an event that they expect will fail? That's a guarantee for failure, and shows the silliness of the attempt.
Here's the question I have: What kind of organization plans an event that they expect will fail? That's a guarantee for failure, and shows the silliness of the attempt.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Where is the Outrage?
In April of 2005, a letter was sent out by several prominent multicultural groups on campus demanding that the person who sent out a derogatory and incendiary e-mail be punished to the full extent of the law and University policy. Now here it is nine months later, and the no actual punishments have been handed out.
Where is the outrage? Is the fact that a name was attached to the events sufficient, or has everyone simply forgotten about it? I haven't forgotten...
Where is the outrage? Is the fact that a name was attached to the events sufficient, or has everyone simply forgotten about it? I haven't forgotten...
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Being Jerked Around by the Soda Contract
Does anyone else think it's strange that when the University renegotiated the soda contract they mandated that the prices go up? Or that the only substantive difference between the proposals was that Pepsi offered 56% of the profit margin, as opposed to the contractual minimum of 55.5% that Coke offered? Where does this money go, and what is being done with it? Anyone with information is welcome to share...
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Signs of the Times
The board near the Campus Activities Board office, which once had the "Destroy the UWM Times" statement from indymedia.org now has the UWM Leader posted on it so that the editorial about the Times ("UWM Times must acknowledge its agenda") is the only thing visible. Apparently, the same person or persons who had a problem with the Times couldn't stop trying to undermine them.
If you don't like something, don't patronize it. It has been my experience that those who take such extreme steps to destroy something only make it stronger, but time will tell.
If you don't like something, don't patronize it. It has been my experience that those who take such extreme steps to destroy something only make it stronger, but time will tell.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Remodeling
Has anyone noticed just how much remodeling of buildings goes on at UWM? Over Winterim, we have the remodeling of a staircase in the Union that over half the people who use the Union don't even know exists, as well as yet another remodeling of the EMS building. It's time an investigation took place as to how much of our tuition money is being spent on these projects...
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