[2146] in UA Exec
[UA] Meeting Tomorrow, Updated Agenda, JudBoard Decision
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Sophia Liu)
Tue Mar 17 18:22:42 2015
From: Sophia Liu <ua-secretary@mit.edu>
Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 18:22:19 -0400
To: "<ua-council@mit.edu>" <ua-council@mit.edu>,
"ua-exec@mit.edu" <ua-exec@mit.edu>,
"ua-officers@mit.edu" <ua-officers@mit.edu>
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Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Hello all,
Quick Reminder: We will be having our meeting tomorrow, and the updated
agenda is here
<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p-tvqXRUxw5JQG6dWEPrjWh0S-aBZnrBKDDP1-H1e6U/edit?usp=sharing>.
Some of the items were shifted around, but the biggest change is a result
of a concern raised by a UA Council Member to JudBoard regarding the items
on the agenda and whether or not they were "emergency" items. The following
is the decision from JudBoard Chair John Halloran:
"The Judicial Board was looking at the agenda for the emergency Council
meeting that is to be held on the 18th. Though not specifically
characterized as an emergency meeting, it is a meeting in addition to the
regular scheduled Council meetings, as stated in the Council Bylaws,
Article 5, Section D, Point 1. By the rules outlined for emergency meetings
in the Council Bylaws, Article 5, Section D, Point 3, "this meeting shall
consider only the agenda item stated by the caller of the emergency
meeting." In reading the agenda, our view is that* all the items on the
agenda can be considered emergency items, except for the item that desires
to amend the bylaws*. We determined that these items constituted emergency
items after consulting with the Vice President about why the meeting was
called.
In response to an official complaint on the subject of the content of an
emergency meeting, we would ask you to *remove this agenda item from the
agenda.* However, if the Council member who submitted this item does wish
to have it discussed, said Council member could ask that Council *"suspend
a specific portion of the Bylaws at the current meeting"* (Council Bylaws,
Article 7, Section A, Point 1). This *would allow the item to be discussed*.
However, the Bylaws further state that "The Bylaws of the Council may not
be suspended to amend any governing documents of the UA" (Council Bylaws,
Article 7, Section A, Point 2). Therefore, even if the bylaws are suspended
to allow for discussion of the agenda item not on the list proposed by the
UA President (caller of the emergency meeting), *the documents cannot be
amended during this meeting under any circumstance.*
We would appreciate it if you could communicate this to the Council member
who submitted the request for the agenda item and request that said member
resubmit that item to a normal Council meeting if a vote on the amendment
is desired. Furthermore, please communicate for future reference that
"Amendments of the Council Bylaws and Committee Bylaws must be presented
one meeting before they are voted on" (Council Bylaws, Article 5, Section
A, Point 3, Sub-point 5) and that this should be taken into account if the
amendment is eventually moved towards a vote."
What this means:
- We will not be able to vote on amending the Council Bylaws and
Committee Bylaws this meeting, but, if a UA Council Member proposes to do
so, we can discuss the item at this meeting. Why does having this
discussion matter?...
- We need to discuss amendment votes for at least one meeting before we
can vote on them, so this means that we can vote on the amendment at our
next meeting if we discuss it tomorrow. If we do not discuss it tomorrow,
we will need to wait another meeting. So, I've left time for it in the
agenda temporarily, if you as a council decide to pursue this plan of
action. If not, we will continue with the next item on the agenda.
- I've reached out to John about any votes that happen in the interim:
- For any votes that take into consideration population: I've asked the
DSL to update me with their current numbers, and will hear from them
tonight. I've consulted with John, and we will vote according to the
current populations in dorms.
- For any votes that require an absolute number of council to pass:
I'll update you all as soon as John gets back to me.
- For any votes that require a proportion of council to pass, such as
2/3 or 3/4: I'll update you all as soon as John gets back to me.
If you have any further questions, let me know and I can reach out to John,
or you can contact him here: halloran@mit.edu.
Sincerely,
Sophia Liu
UA Secretary
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<div dir=3D"ltr"><div><div><div>Hello all,<br><br></div>Quick Reminder: We =
will be having our meeting tomorrow, and the updated agenda is <a href=3D"h=
ttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1p-tvqXRUxw5JQG6dWEPrjWh0S-aBZnrBKDDP1-H1=
e6U/edit?usp=3Dsharing" target=3D"_blank">here</a>. <br><br></div>Some of t=
he items were shifted around, but the biggest change is a result of a conce=
rn raised by a UA Council Member to JudBoard regarding the items on the age=
nda and whether or not they were "emergency" items. The following=
is the decision from JudBoard Chair John Halloran:<br><br><div style=3D"ma=
rgin-left:40px">
"The Judicial Board was looking at the agenda for the emergency Counci=
l=20
meeting that is to be held on the 18th. Though not specifically=20
characterized as an emergency meeting, it is a meeting in addition to=20
the regular scheduled Council meetings, as stated in the Council Bylaws,
Article 5, Section D, Point 1. By the rules outlined for emergency=20
meetings in the Council Bylaws, Article 5, Section D, Point 3, "this=
=20
meeting shall consider only the agenda item stated by the caller of the=20
emergency meeting." In reading the agenda, our view is that<b> all the=
=20
items on the agenda can be considered emergency items, except for the=20
item that desires to amend the bylaws</b>.=C2=A0 We determined that these i=
tems=20
constituted emergency items after consulting with the Vice President=20
about why the meeting was called.<br>
<br>
In response to an official complaint on the subject of the content of an
emergency meeting, we would ask you to <b>remove this agenda item from the
agenda.</b> However, if the Council member who submitted this item does=20
wish to have it discussed, said Council member could ask that Council=20
<b>"suspend a specific portion of the Bylaws at the current meeting&qu=
ot;</b>=20
(Council Bylaws, Article 7, Section A, Point 1). This <b>would allow the=20
item to be discussed</b>. However, the Bylaws further state that "The =
Bylaws
of the Council may not be suspended to amend any governing documents of
the UA" (Council Bylaws, Article 7, Section A, Point 2). Therefore,=
=20
even if the bylaws are suspended to allow for discussion of the agenda=20
item not on the list proposed by the UA President (caller of the=20
emergency meeting), <b>the documents cannot be amended during this meeting=
=20
under any circumstance.</b><br>
<br>
We would appreciate it if you could communicate this to the Council=20
member who submitted the request for the agenda item and request that=20
said member resubmit that item to a normal Council meeting if a vote on=20
the amendment is desired. Furthermore, please communicate for future=20
reference that "Amendments of the Council Bylaws and Committee Bylaws=
=20
must be presented one meeting before they are voted on" (Council Bylaw=
s,
Article 5, Section A, Point 3, Sub-point 5) and that this should be=20
taken into account if the amendment is eventually moved towards a vote.&quo=
t;<br></div><br></div><div>What this means:<br><ul><li>We will not be able =
to vote on amending the Council Bylaws and Committee Bylaws this meeting, b=
ut, if a UA Council Member proposes to do so, we can discuss the item at th=
is meeting. Why does having this discussion matter?...<br></li><li>We need =
to discuss amendment votes for at least one meeting before we can vote on t=
hem, so this means that we can vote on the amendment at our next meeting if=
we discuss it tomorrow. If we do not discuss it tomorrow, we will need to =
wait another meeting. So, I've left time for it in the agenda temporari=
ly, if you as a council decide to pursue this plan of action. If not, we wi=
ll continue with the next item on the agenda.<br></li><li>I've reached =
out to John about any votes that happen in the interim: <br></li><ul><li>Fo=
r any votes that take into consideration population: I've asked the DSL=
to update me with their current numbers, and will hear from them tonight. =
I've consulted with John, and we will vote according to the current pop=
ulations in dorms.<br></li><li>For any votes that require an absolute numbe=
r of council to pass: I'll update you all as soon as John gets back to =
me.</li><li>For any votes that require a proportion of council to pass, suc=
h as 2/3 or 3/4:=C2=A0I'll update you all as soon as John gets back to =
me.=C2=A0</li></ul></ul>If you have any further questions, let me know and =
I can reach out to John, or you can contact him here: <span><span><a href=
=3D"mailto:halloran@mit.edu" target=3D"_blank">halloran@mit.edu</a>. <br><b=
r></span></span></div><div><span><span>Sincerely,<br><br></span></span></di=
v><div><span><span>Sophia Liu<br></span></span></div><div><span><span>UA Se=
cretary<br></span></span></div><img width=3D"0" height=3D"0" class=3D"mailt=
rack-img" src=3D"https://mailtrack.io/trace/mail/ce59329971521859b2b0e4686a=
157a2ff1a4009f.png"></div>
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