Recap of March 17 ASUAF Meeting
By Adriana Ticas
After a week‑long spring break, the ASUAF Senate met on Tuesday to discuss the retention of three senators, funding approvals and upcoming campus events.
A probationary‑period resolution before the Senate stated that Senators Maggie Cothron, Lael Bartch and Jesse Tyrrell had not met at least one requirement outlined in Section 204.0 of the ASUAF bylaws. Those requirements include completing policy training, attending two Rules Committee meetings, attending all Senate‑wide meetings, maintaining office hours with no unexcused absences and participating in at least one ASUAF tabling event.
During the discussion, Sen. Tyrrell clarified that he is a senator who did not have a fulfillment required and that his only issue was completing a tabling event. “Public Director Lilly Varney can attest that I did table shortly after the deadline expired,” he said. The Senate voted to retain all three senators.
In other business, Vice President Yan Vyshynskyi said that the Club Council is moving forward with its event‑management and planning 101 session with Student Leadership & Involvement (SLI), scheduled for the second week of April. He noted that a council meeting is scheduled for Friday and asked senators to pass along the information to any clubs interested in applying.
The Senate also approved several funding measures, adopting four bills that support content‑creation equipment, reusable poster‑making supplies, the UAF Cadet Club and the Nanook Icebreakers. Senators additionally passed a resolution reaffirming the probationary‑period requirements in the bylaws. The three retained senators abstained from the vote due to a conflict of interest.
Sen. Eugene Wiltz provided several updates, beginning with the Practical Title IX Training for Real Student Safety Bill, which was postponed until the next meeting. He said he hopes to speak with ASUAF President Jackson Nelson to determine the best path forward for the bill.
Wiltz also announced that travel applications are now closed. “I just sent out the last emails and travel fund award letters last night,” he said. “Great job on that, guys.” He followed that update with a reminder about next week’s bowling tournament, scheduled Monday and Wednesday from 6–9 p.m. at the Polar Alley, and encouraged clubs to sign up, noting that participation can help them earn funding.
In her report, Director of Public Relations Lilly Varney said planning for Spring Fest is underway and that organizers are seeking help. She said they decided to focus on Spring Fest rather than organizing a separate pickleball tournament, emphasizing that combining efforts into one event would be more beneficial for the student community.
Toward the end of the meeting, Wiltz highlighted that he and Sen. Mack Benn are part of the SRC Rec Advisory Committee and are seeking more representation from the student body. He said that if anyone is interested in joining them, they should attend and hear what the committee has to say. “You don’t have to be part of the rec advisory committee,” he said. “Just be there, voice your opinion, whatever it may be.”
The meeting adjourned at 6 p.m.