ASUN asks earnestly for student participation

The Association of Students of the University of Nebraska wants students at its Wednesday night meetings.

But the senate has to remember to show up first.

Last night, ASUN started its meeting without two-thirds of the senators present, putting them out of quorum.

But David Painter, a junior chemical and biomolecular engineering major, walked in shortly thereafter and ASUN had the senators needed to vote and proceeded with open forum.

"Does anyone wish to speak in open forum?" asked Brian Coburn, a senior biochemistry major and ASUN internal vice president.

Open forum is one of the first things on the agenda at ASUN meetings and offers students a chance to address the entire senate.

"Anyone?" Coburn asked again.

Rarely do students take  time out of their schedules to attend ASUN meetings, and the current administration is hoping to change this apathetic tradition.

"Students should know they have a voice," said Megan Collins, a senior business administration major and ASUN president. "And the best way to have their voice heard is to attend senate meetings."

The agenda for all senate meetings is posted on the ASUN Web site, http://www.unl.edu/asun, at noon every Tuesday. Collins suggested students check the site and show up to meetings if they see any bills on the agenda that concern them.

But open forum is also an opportunity for students to bring up issues that ASUN might not be thinking about. Collins said those students are more than welcome to speak as well.

If students don't want to bring an issue up in front of the entire ASUN, its office, located on the first floor of the Nebraska Union, is always open, Collins said.

ASUN senators are required to do office hours in case students come in with concerns.

Lane Carr, a freshman political science major, was the lone student observing the meeting last night. Carr is a member of the Freshmen Campus Leaders Association and a member of ASUN's Appointments Committee.

"It's important because these guys take the time to represent us," Carr said. "If I have a concern I know who to take it to."

Once the meeting got underway Wednesday, ASUN passed a bill that created the Sustainability Ad Hoc Committee. The committee will coordinate with other eco-friendly groups on campus.

"(Sustainability) is bringing people together; it's something we want to expand and bring to the university," said Jared Tidemann, a senior political science major and ASUN senator. "On Earth Day nonetheless. … We need to pass this quickly to get ready for summer."

RYANBOETEl@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM