ASUW bill regulating RSO event tickets postponed

Written by Wiley Combs

Wednesday, 25 February 2009 17:50

Senate Bill 2233 was postponed until next week’s Associated Students of the University of Wyoming meeting after a lengthy discussion over its terms. Dixie Thoman, the author of the “Equal Opportunity for ASUW-funded Events Bill,” said the the bill was made because of “concerns brought from students about a lack of ability to get those tickets—to any ASUW ticketed event.”

Thoman said the act was created during a discussion in the funding board committee aboutw the occasional unavailability of tickets to RSO-sponsored events for students.

“The intention of the bill is to provide equal opportunity for all students to be able to attend ASUW funded events,” Thoman said.

Other senators disagreed. “I think that this sets a really dangerous precedent. Just because ASUW provides some financial stake in an RSO’s operations, I don’t think we can say that allows us then to dictate how RSOs are going to organize, arrange and essentially put on their events,” Senator Paul Weaver said.

Weaver registered his disagreement with the act during committee, and informed the senate body that the bill was “telling student organizations how to conduct their events.” He said that there were already plenty of regulations on organizations in the ASUW finance policy.

“The RSOs that do the work for the events should be able to distribute tickets. I think they have a good interest in getting as many people to their events as possible, and to disburse those tickets to as many students as possible,” Senator Benjamin Kinney said.

After 35 minutes of debate, a motion to postpone by Senator Marcus Catchpole was carried by the senate. Speaking in favor of the postponement, Senator Weaver expressed an opinion that it would be important to consult RSOs and their leaders on the matter.

Ex-Officio Trent Mankowski, representing the United Multicultural Council, suggested consulting the international students organizations, whose events would be largely impacted by the implementation of the bill.

“Tonight was very interesting, I think that some senators had concerns that should had been brought forward before this evening’s debate,” said Thoman, echoing previous comments from Senator Brianna Jones asking fellow senators to do their homework before a second reading of a bill, to avoid a “hullabaloo at the senate meeting where everyone has amendments which conflict and we’re all stressing.”

“As the author, I think that RSOs should realize that they provide these services of awareness, and should realize that all students should be able to participate,” Thoman said.

Thoman said she hoped the bill would eventually help RSOs sell more tickets to their events.

The “Equal Opportunity for ASUW-funded Events” bill was sponsored by Senators Gilbert and Hansen and Student-At-Large Drumhiller.

Email the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites