The Associated Students Technical Service (ASTEC) is set to undergo a change of name, coupled with supervision changes.
The ASUW debated a bill this week that would change the name of ASTEC, and change who will have oversight of the program.
“I am voting no on this bill due to concerns of transparent communication,” Sen. Hannah Rhymes, said. Rhymes worked as a member of ASTEC for two years prior to serving as a member of the ASUW Senate.
“[I have] concerns about what historical precedents will be set with legislation that cedes control over one of our most valuable programs.”
ASTEC serves students by ‘elevating the technology profile for events’. This includes providing PA systems, speakers, lighting, projection equipment, etc. for events held around campus, such as the UMC drag show, ROTC military ball, and etiquette dinners.
For years ASTEC has served under the supervision of ASUW, as the program is student-funded.
In Senate Bill 2790, supervision of ASTEC would be given to the associate director of the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership (CSIL), a position that has not been filled yet.
Additionally, as part of the restructuring of the management of the program, ASTEC will be officially renamed Student Technical Services.
“Placing ASTEC under the supervision of an associate director who does not have any involvement with the production side of things, doesn’t actually solve ASTEC’s problems,” Rhymes said.
ASTEC has been without a coordinator, making it so they do not have someone to “help guide them to better event production,” Rhymes said.
“This bill is setting a precedent of ceding control of a program that is student-funded,” Rhymes said.
“I am deeply uncomfortable with that.”
During the debate, it was brought up that there had been a precedent set in the past of ASUW ceding control over a student-funded program: SafeRide.
However, when SafeRide was handed off by ASUW they also halted all funding that they had previously provided to the transportation service, this would not be the case with ASTEC.
“I think it would be wise to revisit some of the paradigms that have been explored in the past, particularly options that incorporate temporary support and oversight from technical services, which operates out of the College of Arts and Sciences auditorium,” Rhymes said.
Following Rhymes President Hunter Swilling spoke to the senate in support of the bill.
“It is true they [the associate director] wouldn’t be deeply involved in the day-to-day event planning for the students of ASTEC. However, they would have the knowledge of what needs to be done for this.”
The knowledge Swilling was speaking of includes the demand and capacity of spaces where events would be held in.
“Which I think is a very key part of the information Aztec has been historically lacking,” Swilling said.
The passage of the bill would create a trial period in which the new supervision system will take place, lasting until Oct. 15, 2023.
At that time all parties involved will sit down and assess the efficacy of the new arrangement, and decide if they wish to make it permanent.
With a vote of 19-2, the bill passed. Sen. Johnathon True was the only one who joined Sen. Rhymes in voting against the bill.
