ASUW is set to undergo major changes to its structure, barring the result of a ballot referendum sent to students on Tuesday, Jan. 25.
On Jan. 25 the ASUW senate passed senate bill #2769 with a vote of 26-1. This will amend their Constitution and lower the number of serving senators from 32 to 21, as well as transitioning the senate to an at-large representation model.
Before the bill can go into effect it must first pass a ballot referendum voted on by the student body.
Ballots were sent out through University email to all students and were required to stay open for a minimum of 72 hours, to give all students ample time to vote.
Carter Boatright, a Sophomore majoring in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management, said he is against the shrinking of the senate.
“I want more representation of students, not less. I want more students in there making decisions, not less,” Boatright said.
Nicholas Gindulis, a junior in chemical engineering, holds a different viewpoint.
“I feel like that is a lot of people to get to agree on things,” Gindulis said in reference to the current 32 seat senate. “It just might take them forever, so this might be a kind of fast track process.”
According to ASUW President Hunter Swilling, hours after the ballot opened the referendum had received 434 votes with 69.1% voting in favor.
“It is many, many more times than we got at the last ballot referendum we held, which got 31,” Swilling said. “So yay for improvement.”
Both Gindulis and Boatright said they were unaware of any previous ballot referendums.
“I had no idea that there had been other ones,” Gindulis said. “I just saw this email and thought it was a one-time thing.”
The improved participation is a direct result of changes made to how ASUW conducted ballot referendums in the past.
“Simple communication, instead of just putting something on a website and not emailing it anywhere,” says President Swilling
While the latest referendum has seen more students actively participate, some students still feel they may be underinformed.
“I understand the basics of what they do, but do not know too much about how they actually operate or what sort of power they hold,” Boatright said.
Gindulis shared similar thoughts.
“I wish the University did a better job communicating about ASUW,” Gindulis said. “I hope they send out more information over email, it’s probably the best way for me to stay informed.”
