Representing the entire undergraduate population and its more than 180 student clubs, the Undergraduate Student Association is the largest governing organization at UB. Funded by the mandatory student activity fee of $69.75 per full-time student, SA manages a total budget of $2.4 million.
Despite SA's substantial budget and constituency, only 1,006 of the approximately 17,000 eligible student voters took part in the SA Senate elections late last month.
In an effort to inform students about the functions of their student government, The Spectrum is running a three-part series covering each branch of SA.
This is the third segment of that series.
Legislative Branch
Like the federal government, SA's legislative branch is divided into two houses - the Student Assembly and the SA Senate. The Assembly's primary function, according to the SA constitution, is to govern academic policy, student rights and student welfare; the Senate's main responsibility is to allocate SA's annual budget.
The Assembly
According to Jennifer Tuttle, last year's speaker of the Assembly, the body acts as a "responsive institution for students," which can be a powerful asset, since it is a forum where virtually any student problem may be addressed. The primary function of the assembly, according to Tuttle, is to serve as a "voice" for undergraduates.
Membership in the assembly is open to any student who is not already holding a position on the SA executive board or as a justice for the Student Wide Judiciary.
Members must complete a petition signed by 40 students to obtain voting rights on the assembly. This semester, 71 petitions were completed and returned.
The assembly consists of six committees - academic affairs, communications, elections and credentials, student affairs, commuter and off-campus student affairs, and rules - which divide the assembly's functions into smaller parts.
Annually, a new speaker of the assembly is elected by members to run the assembly meetings, which must occur at least every three weeks, said Tuttle.
According to the constitution, the speaker coordinates the activities of the committees, monitors the assembly's agenda and serves as both the chairperson of the Rules Committee and a non-voting member of the Senate.
Tuttle, Matt Albright, Greg Wyffels, Gregory Haynes and Kimberly Shocolaad are candidates running for speaker of the assembly this year. The election will take place at the next meeting, set for 6 p.m. tonight in 330 Student Union.
The Senate
According to the constitution, the senate functions as a group to impose sanctions against anyone who mishandles SA funds, officially recognize a new SA club, approve amendments to the SA Constitution, or override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority vote.
According to Anthony Burgio, newly elected chairman of the Senate, the most prominent job of the Senate is the allocation of SA's budget.
"The Senate is unique because it controls the budget - it directly effects everyone," said Burgio.
The undergraduate student body elects 12 representatives each year, divided into six on-campus and six off-campus senators.
September's Senate elections pulled just over 1,000 students to the polls, voting in Yesenia Diaz, R. Michael Goggin, Kristen Swanson, Katie Walsh, Adam R. Baviford and Urvish Tumakuwala to the on-campus positions, and Burgio, Lynn Kwon, Sara E. Nye, Kimberly Sweet, Leonard Vishnevsky and Mark A. Zambito secured the off-campus positions.
All the senators, with exception of Tumakuwala, who ran as part of the Transformers party, ran on the Edge Party ticket.
"The SA budget is extremely large, and it is essential to have confident, efficient senators to keep an eye on spending," said Burgio.
According to the constitution, the Senate also consists of several members who are not elected, but serve as representatives throughout the year. Those members include SA Treasurer Naazli Ahmed and the coordinators of: the People of Color Clubs; International Affairs Clubs; Academic Clubs; Sports Clubs; Special Interest, Service, Hobby Clubs; and Engineering Clubs.
SA President Christian Oliver, Vice President Jennifer Brace and the Senate chairperson serve as non-voting senators.
The non-voting members serve on the Senate to clarify day-to-day financial expenditures of the executive branch, said Burgio.
Burgio ran uncontested for his position during the last meeting. The Senate chairman is responsible for presiding over Senate meetings, coordinating the activities and serving as a voting member of the Emergency Powers Council.
"(The chairperson) gives up the right to vote for exchange of leadership role," said Paul Balzano, the academic clubs coordinator.
The SA constitution requires the Senate to meet at least once every four weeks. The next senate meeting will be held Wednesday at 4 p.m. in 330 Student Union.
