Sometimes a procedure can be long . sometimes it can be tedious . sometimes it can even hit student governments.

The Saint Louis University Student Government Association Senate spent over two hours last night passing 16 bills and two resolutions while struggling to maintain quorum.

After the March 1 meeting failed to meet quorum due to the visit of presidential candidate George W. Bush, the SGA senate was forced to handle a large number of procedural bills this week.

In old business, the senate approved an amendment to the SGA bylaws regarding attendance. Authored by Administrative Vice President-Elect Chad Kreikemeier and Marguerite Senator Nick Fagan, the new attendance policy begins impeachment proceedings after two unexcused absences or five excused absences.

“This needs to be in the bylaws to end all the questioning,” Kreikemeier said.

In new business, the senate seated six new senators. Those seated were: Benjamin Dunlap, Philosophy & Letters; Brigit Kendall, Business & Administration Undergraduate; Vijay Chekalingam, Commuter Graduate; Chris Avery, Business & Administration Undergraduate; Dana Naughton, Social Service; James McNichols, Commuter Undergraduate.

With funding hearings beginning next week, this was the last meeting to charter any student organization desiring funding next year. The SGA Committee for Internal Affairs approved, along with the SGA House of Governors, six organizations for chartered status. The following organizations were chartered: The Association of Criminal Justice and Sociology, The Climbing Club, Graduate and Professional Student Associations, Public Relations Club, SLU Dietic Association and Women’s Club Volleyball.

Some debate arose over the purpose and distinguishing features of the Climbing Club and the Public Relations Club which are similar to the Outdoors Club and the Advertising Club.

“I spoke with the advisers of these groups, and they felt there were enough differences to be different organizations,” explained Administrative Vice President Tony Wagner.

Eddie Holman, Black Student Alliance President, expressed concern for the process in which these organizations were chartered, being based on applications and no presence at the senate meeting.

Concluding most of the procedural work, the senate addressed a variety of concerns.

Commuter Senator Angela Haas explained in her bill the need for student and temporary worker hiring and firing policies. “Although there are policies for faculty, staff, and administration, there are no policies for student and temporary workers.”

Haas proceeded to explain that several student workers had been hired over Christmas break with the understanding it would be a month-long full-time position. After just a few days of work, however, they were outsourced to another group.

“There needs to be a policy to give student workers some rights,” Haas said.

“The University simply has nothing,” said Tom Hanley, an employee in Information Technology Services. “If I need a worker, I post on a bulletin board or ask for suggestions from other employees.” He continued to explain that he is in cooperation with the Career Center to allow students to apply online with their application placed in a database for SLU departments to use when hiring.

Kathy Humphrey, interim vice provost for student development, added, “If a student is terminated and doesn’t understand why, he or she can go to the supervisor of the person who terminated him or her.”

“I do hope we have something by the fall,” Humphrey added.

Another resolution brought forth and approved dealt with the applications for housing and the process by which Residence Life acts.

Co-author First Year Senator Peter Brokish explained, “A lot of students leave the Office of Residence Life with the feeling that they weren’t treated adequately. A lot of this comes from the confusing forms and when they don’t get an answer to their questions.”

The resolution requested a new application form for housing assignments that clearly outlines the timeline, order of preference and any changes in policy from previous years. It also requested that Residence Life modify their approach to helping students by “showing compassion, patience and leniency.”

Two resolutions were tabled due to lack of information. The first would support April 4 as National Boycott Sodexho-Marriot. Rich Bergin, author of the resolution, was not well-informed at the time on the issue and opted to table the resolution until next week.

The second tabled resolution would allow SGA to reclaim funds in the accounts of inactive organizations. Next week, Director of Student Life Phil Lyons will present a list of approximately six to 10 chartered student organizations that have been inactive for over a year.

To conclude the evening, the senate passed a resolution congratulating the Billiken basketball team on their Conference USA victory and wishing them good luck in the NCAA Tournament.