Amendment to change from electing to selecting Programs Board members

What is it?

Currently, the ASCLU Constitution (specifically, Article IV, Section 2, Subsection 1) states that all Programs Board members shall be elected:

The voting membership of Programs Board shall consist of four Representatives from each class, a first year transfer Representative, an international Representative, and a Commuter Representative. All Programs Board Representatives shall be elected by ASCLU.

If the amendment passes, it would read:

All Programs Board Representatives shall be selected: Programs Board Representatives are to be selected on qualifications and merit following an application and interview process in collaboration with the Programs Board Director, Executive Cabinet Representative and ranking official of the Division of Student Affairs and/or his/her designee(s).

Additionally, if the amendment passes, Article VIII, Section 3 would read:

Upon presentation to the ASCLU Senate Director and the ASCLU Programs Board Director within 48 hours of final results from an election (including runoff)/selection a petition of 10 percent of the ASCLU to recall an elected/selected officer, a vote to approve recalling an elected/selected officer must be called within two weeks of classes in session. A two-thirds majority vote favoring recall shall be necessary to recall an elected/selected officer. Any single individual elected/selected to a single position may not be recalled more than one time.

What does it mean?

If passes, the amendment would change the process through which students can become Programs Board members. Instead of holding elections where the student body can vote for members, students will become Programs Board members through a selection process. This selection process would be headed by the Programs Board Director-elect, an Executive Cabinet Rep, and a professional staff in Student Affairs. The Student Affairs staff would not be part of the final decision-making in selecting members; rather, this person would ensure fairness and impartiality so that the Programs Board Director-elect and Executive Cabinet Rep are not favoring their close friends. Although students will not be able to vote for their Programs Board representatives, if 10 percent of CLU undergraduates don't approve someone that was selected, then CLU undergraduates will have an opportunity to remove that person with 2/3 majority vote.

Why is this amendment happening?

Programs Board Director Katy Crabtree initially brought the idea to Executive Cabinet in early January 2014. Crabtree felt that Programs Board events could be better planned and executed by members who are experienced (or willing to learn for those with limited experience), accountable, and responsible in the first place. Executive Cabinet discussed in great depth the pros and cons of this amendment and reached a consensus to support the amendment. Then, Crabtree discussed this idea with Programs Board on January 27th. On February 3rd, Programs Board voted to send the amendment to the CLU undergraduates who will then have an opportunity to vote for the amendment. The amendment will become final once approved by the CLU undergraduates by 2/3 majority vote.

What are the benefits of this amendment? Concerns?

Major Benefits
Through a selection process, members can be chosen based on experience (or willingness to learn for those with limited experience), accountability, and responsibility. In other words, the best people can be selected for the position--much like through a job interview.

Major Concerns
Changing from election to selection basically takes away the students' power to vote for their  representatives. However, the second part of the amendment states that any selected member may be removed from office if 10 percent of CLU undergraduates initially do not approve that person being selected. If that happens, then the member in question will be removed if CLU undergraduates vote to remove that member by 2/3 majority vote.

Because the selection process will be headed by the Programs Board Director-elect and an Executive Cabinet Rep, the potential problem is that their close friends will be selected, and Programs Board will not be inclusive of other students. To ensure that this does not happen, the professional staff in Student Affairs will participate in the selection process to make sure that members are selected based on merit and qualifications, not through personal connections.

When/where can I vote for this amendment?

Voting for the amendment will occur along with the Executive Cabinet elections from Tuesday, February 11th at 8 am to Wednesday, February 12th at 5 pm. Results of both the amendment and the Executive Cabinet elections will be posted on the night of Wednesday, February 12th. You can vote on Blackboard (under Courses) or during the daytime at the flagpole.

What does the timeline of this amendment look like?

1. Jan. 27: Programs Board initially discussed this amendment.
2. Feb. 3: The official bill, PB24B14, was brought to Programs Board meeting, and Programs Board approved (with 16 members approving and 2 opposing) to send the amendment to the CLU undergraduates. The bill now goes to the CLU undergraduates who will have final vote on the amendment (2/3 majority vote is required for the amendment to pass).
3. Feb. 11-12: CLU undergraduates will vote for the amendment along with the Executive Cabinet elections.

If passes, the amendment goes into effect immediately to select new Programs Board members for the next academic year.

If fails, nothing will change and elections will continue to elect new Programs Board members.

What will the selection process look like?

The amendment intentionally does not describe how the selection process will look like. Because this process will be new, it would be best to leave the details of the selection process to those who are leading it. Subsequent selection processes might need changes and improvements, so the amendment gives high freedom and flexibility to those leading the selection process. The specific details of the selection process will be decided every year by the Programs Board Director-elect and an Executive Cabinet Rep with advice and guidance from a professional staff in Student Affairs.

What about Senate?

Regardless of whether or not this amendment passes, Senate will continue to hold elections. Although both Senate and Programs Board comprise ASCLUG (along with Executive Cabinet), the functions of the two boards are very different. Students are invited to come to Senate meetings to ask for additional funding for their clubs and organizations and voice their opinions, whereas students are invited to come and enjoy Programs Board's Club Lu events (e.g., Homecoming Carnival, Howl at the Moon, Mr. Kingsmen, Drop In's). In other words, the purpose of Senate is relatively broader to represent students' opinions, interests, and needs whereas that of Programs Board is more specific to successfully brainstorm, plan, and execute student programming. Therefore, elections will continue to elect members for Senate.

I have more questions/comments/concerns. Whom can I contact?

Please feel free to contact Katy Crabtree, the current Programs Board Director, at ascluprogdir@callutheran.edu OR Andre Andoyan, the current President, at asclupres@callutheran.edu.