USG postpones amendment vote

Correction appended

Amendments to the USG constitution proposed by USG president Josh Weinstein ’09 were tabled yesterday at the first meeting of the newly elected student body government after there was confusion about the wording of one of the amendments detailing the U-Council chair selection process.

U-Councilors Sarah Langberg ’09 and Maria Salciccioli ’09 questioned the amendment in question, saying it would give the president more power in choosing U-Council chairs.

“We’re giving the president that [new] power,” Langberg said.

Weinstein, however, called his proposal a simple “semantic change” and adding that the language simply makes things clearer but will not change the way the USG functions in selecting the U-Council chair.

Though the USG Senate came to a consensus on all other proposed amendments, the Senate decided not to vote on the amended constitution and instead voted to discuss the amendments further at next week’s meeting.

Other changes included the addition of an Information Technology Committee, which will serve “as the primary liaison to the Office of Information Technology ... [and] is responsible for the maintenance and development of the web-based or web-related initiatives of the USG,” according to the proposed amendment.

The proposed IT Committee reflects increased student interest in USG online ventures, particularly the focus on redesigning Point, Weinstein said.

A second amendment proposes adding an elections manager to the ranks of the USG. The elections manager, along with two assistants, will act as an independent organizer of the various USG elections that occur throughout the year. The manager is appointed by the USG president and will be prohibited from holding elected office during his tenure.

Discussion of the Alcohol Committee’s new workshops to combat high-risk drinking was a prominent part of the night’s agenda.

Weinstein expressed concern that the committee’s marketing of the meetings focused too greatly on heavy drinking and would turn away students who do not believe that they drink excessively. Nevertheless, he still strongly encouraged “broad student involvement” in the events. “We can really help shape the alcohol policies,” he said.

At the last senate meeting, President Tilghman expressed concern over lack of student participation in meetings regarding the University’s revised alcohol policy. Widespread participation would prove student interest in the alcohol issue, Weinstein said.

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Vice president Mike Wang ’10 encouraged students to bring up issues of importance directly with Tilghman. “It’s really good to go to her office hours,” he said, noting that they are posted online and published in The Daily Princetonian.

Weinstein noted that 128 students have applied for positions on the USG, including on the newly created Frosh-Soph Council.

Correction:

The original version of this article stated that Weinstein's proposed amendment about U-Council chairs had been rejected by the USG. The amendment has not been rejected, but was instead tabled until next week's USG meeting. The original version also incorrectly stated that the USG senate currently chooses the U-Council chair without nomination from the president.