Rocío Hernández/ Nevada Sagebrush
Associated Students of University of Nevada President Caden Fabbi and Vice President Jessica Salsman pose for a photo during the first meeting of the 83rd session on Wednesday, April 15 in the Joe Crowley Student Union. Fabbi and Salsman have recently completed rounds of interviews to select members of the executive branch.
By Rocío Hernandez
Freshly sworn-in Associated Students of the University of Nevada senators and officers held the first meeting of the 83rd session on Wednesday, April 15 in the Joe Crowley Student Union Ballroom C.
The first items on the agenda were the inaugural ceremonies for President Caden Fabbi and Vice President Jessica Salsman, each of whom were sworn in by Chief Justice Jonathan Barnes.
The senate’s first order of business was to appoint a senator as speaker of the senate. According to the Statutes of the Associated Students, the speaker’s duties include producing the agenda for senate meetings and ensuring that the senate complies with Nevada Open Meeting Law.
Sen. Nick Andrew of Interdisciplinary Programs and Sen. Alex Crupi of the College of Engineering were nominated for the position. Senators noted that Andrew’s strength was his incumbency and experience, which they believe would help the senate kick off faster than under the leadership of a senator in his first term. The body was also impressed by Andrew’s prepared speech, which showed them his dedication to the position.
Crupi’s leadership experience includes being president of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and technology supervisor of the Joe. While these were impressive feats, senators were not sure if Crupi would have enough time to dedicate to the position if elected. Unlike Andrew, Crupi did not seem to have come ready to present. In later discussion, Sen. Thomas Green of the College of Education revealed that he had encouraged Crupi to run for Speaker of Senate against
Andrew before the start of the meeting so the election for the speaker of the senate could be “a democratic process.”
Andrew was elected to preside over senate by a unanimous vote. His seat as the second Interdisciplinary Programs senator was left vacant.
During ASUN general elections, student voters approved ballot question one, which aims to fill the senate position left vacant after the election of the speaker of the senate. The proposal still needs to go through the Board of Regents for approval before it can be added to the senate rules. It is currently scheduled to be heard in June.
The senate also had to choose a speaker pro tempore, a parliamentarian, a What to Fix Nevada manager and six committee chairs.
Some of the speaker pro tempore’s primary responsibilities include supervising the legislative internship program and perform the duties of the speaker of the senate, should he or she be absent. Sen. Emilia Carro of the College of Education was elected to serve as the speaker pro tempore in a 10-9 vote against Sen. Bailey Gamberg of the College of Liberal Arts.
Some senators argued that Millie’s disadvantage was that she had never participated in the internship program, while Gamberg had. However, senators could not deny that if Andrew were to be absent, Carro would be more qualified to take over his duties.
After a five hour meeting, the senate is ready to draft new legislation and serve the constituents that elected them.
The Whose Who of ASUN:
ASUN President: Caden Fabbi
ASUN Vice President: Jessica Salsman
Speaker of the senate: Former Sen. Nick Andrew of Interdisciplinary Programs
Speaker Pro Tempore: Sen. Emilia Carro of the College of Education
Parliamentarian: Sen. Jacob Boult of College of Liberal Arts
What to Fix Nevada Manager: Sen. Sadie Fienberg of the Reynolds School of Journalism
Chair of the Committee on Academics: Sen. Larissa Gloutak of Interdisciplinary Programs
Chair of the Committee on Budget and Finance: Sen. Sebastian Atienza of the College of Business
Chair of the Committee on Civic Engagement: Sen. Brandon Boone of the College of Business
Chair of the Committee on Government Operations: Sen. Bailey Gamberg of the College of Liberal Arts
Chair of the Committee on Public Affairs – Sen. Jacob Boult of the College of Liberal Arts
Chair of the Committee on University Affairs: Sen. Rachel Lucas of the College of Engineering
Last week, Fabbi and Salsman selected the possible members of the executive branch:
Sen. emeritus Ryan Hood was chosen to be the Attorney General.
Sen. emeritus Raina Benford was chosen to be the Chief of Staff
Sen. emeritus Ken Brooke was chosen to be Chief Justice
Former Director of Programming Drake Sacenti was chosen to be Director of Blue Crew
Sen. emeritus Ryan Suppe was chosen to be the Director of Campus and Public Relations
Former Campus Life Faith Based Social & Political Involvement Commissioner Ian Stewart was chosen to be Director of Clubs and Organizations
Sen. emeritus Marissa Crook was chosen to be the Director of Legislative Affairs
Former Assistant Director of Programming Tazia Statucki of the College of Liberal Arts was chosen to be Director of Programming
The candidates for the executive positions will be presented to the Oversight Committee on Tuesday, April 21 before they go before the senate on Wednesday, April 22.
Rocío Hernández can be reached at rhernandez@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @rociohdzz09.
