Both bodies of the Associated Students of USU passed legislation in their meetings this week. A resolution extending the operating hours of the Merrill-Cazier Library was voted in unanimously by the Academic Senate and final approval was given to an Academic Senate bill regulating use of the ASUSU Information Desk.

The Merrill-Cazier Library resolution, sponsored by Academic Senate President Ben Croshaw, mandates that the library remain open for an additional hour each day of the week prior to finals, known as No Test Week. The resolution states that multiple students expressed their desire for extra hours to members of the Academic Senate, spurning the legislation. The resolution also states that Dean of Libraries Richard Clement fully supports the hour extension.

Discussion of the resolution, the Senate’s first for the year, was minimal and senators were in agreement at its passing in its Monday meeting.

“Congratulations, our first resolution is in place,” Croshaw said smiling as he struck his gavel to end the meeting.

In Tuesday’s meeting of the Executive Council, members of ASUSU brought an end to a nearly month-long discussion on use of the ASUSU Information Desk, located on the first floor of the Taggart Student Center. A committee was formed during last week’s meeting to address council concerns for the bill and Executive Vice President Spencer Lee informed the council that after deliberation and minor changes, the committee had unanimously passed the bill earlier Tuesday morning.

Effective Jan. 1, 2010, members of ASUSU will be required to spend one hour every week interacting with students at the information desk. The bill further limits use of the desk exclusively to those officials of student government and their organizations. Campus clubs and non-ASUSU groups will only be allowed access to the desk after receiving permission by the executive council.

A brief discussion was held prior to the council vote, in which clarification was requested regarding how campus clubs would receive authorization for use. Public relations director Allie Anderson suggested that the ASUSU administrative assistant, specified in the bill as the organizing entity behind the desk, could be granted authorizing power as to not burden the executive council.

“In my opinion the (administrative assistant) could do that,” Anderson said.

Lee responded, saying receiving approval from the council intentionally creates difficulty, in an effort to persuade campus clubs to pursue other options available to them, specifically tables and banners in the hallway that passes the USU Bookstore.

The bill was passed unanimously with no amendments.

In other ASUSU business, the executive council voted to change its meeting time for spring semester to 5 p.m. Tuesday. Traditionally the council’s meetings have been held at that time but were changed in the fall to accommodate the class schedules of council members.

The council also reported on its student-fee committees. Most reported their fees to be in good financial health with only a handful – namely the bus, health, music, recreation and computer fee – possibly needing increases. Estimates for increases were speculative and numerically low.

– b.c.wood@aggiemail.usu.edu