2008 Woodie Awards
ASBSU Chief of Staff resigns
CHARLOTTE TAYLOR
Managing Editor
Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: News
Cortney Christian, chief of staff of the Associated Students of Boise State University, resigned Friday, Oct. 3, after an incident in the ASBSU offices.
According to ASBSU President Trevor Grigg, Christian was concerned that the organization's administrative assistant, Montana Wright, was undertaking the duties of ASBSU executive staff members.
Grigg explained that Wright simply assisted with committee assignments - a laborious task - and does not feel she overstepped any boundaries.
"Sometimes we just need to lighten up on everyone's roles," Grigg said.
According to Grigg, Christian and Wright had a verbal altercation in the ASBSU offices. Christian then spoke with Student Activities Director Kelly Stevens and Assistant Director Charlie Varland about Wright's role in relation to ASBSU.
Grigg and ASBSU Vice President Joe Bunt expressed disappointment that Christian did not include them in this meeting or inform them of his concerns.
"It wasn't over the issue," Bunt said in regards to the incident, "It was how the issue was handled."
Grigg and Bunt did not hear from Christian for a week following the incident. They contacted him Friday to set up an appointment.
"We wanted to take of the situation in person," Grigg said.
Christian resigned via e-mail the same day.
"That's the way he felt was best to solve the problem," Grigg said. "It's unfortunate. He's a great guy.
Christian was not available for comment at press time.
Senate Update
In other news, Grigg vetoed a Senate resolution that would require senators to wear business casual attire at Thursday voting meetings.
Grigg said resolutions are a waste of time because they hold no power. He also expressed disappointment that this was the only piece of legislation the Senate passed since mid-September.
"It was like, 'This is all that we have? This is all that you guys gave worked on?'" Grigg said.
Although Grigg's veto holds no weight (the president cannot veto matters of Senate procedure), Senate Pro Tempore Joel Henretty implored the Senate Tuesday to bring forth more meaningful legislation.
"We need to start doing things for the students," Henretty said.
Following Henretty's call to action, Sen. Gracie Bingham and Sen. Saul Solis presented reports from external committees. Solis met recently with Boise State's new Alcohol Coalition, a committee which will meet monthly to discuss how to raise awareness about binge drinking on campus.
Bingham reported on the Student Publications Board, which met to approve The Arbiter's 2008-09 budget and discuss their recent student fee cut. The student Senate meets every Tuesday and Thursday at 4 p.m. in the Student Union Forum.
According to ASBSU President Trevor Grigg, Christian was concerned that the organization's administrative assistant, Montana Wright, was undertaking the duties of ASBSU executive staff members.
Grigg explained that Wright simply assisted with committee assignments - a laborious task - and does not feel she overstepped any boundaries.
"Sometimes we just need to lighten up on everyone's roles," Grigg said.
According to Grigg, Christian and Wright had a verbal altercation in the ASBSU offices. Christian then spoke with Student Activities Director Kelly Stevens and Assistant Director Charlie Varland about Wright's role in relation to ASBSU.
Grigg and ASBSU Vice President Joe Bunt expressed disappointment that Christian did not include them in this meeting or inform them of his concerns.
"It wasn't over the issue," Bunt said in regards to the incident, "It was how the issue was handled."
Grigg and Bunt did not hear from Christian for a week following the incident. They contacted him Friday to set up an appointment.
"We wanted to take of the situation in person," Grigg said.
Christian resigned via e-mail the same day.
"That's the way he felt was best to solve the problem," Grigg said. "It's unfortunate. He's a great guy.
Christian was not available for comment at press time.
Senate Update
In other news, Grigg vetoed a Senate resolution that would require senators to wear business casual attire at Thursday voting meetings.
Grigg said resolutions are a waste of time because they hold no power. He also expressed disappointment that this was the only piece of legislation the Senate passed since mid-September.
"It was like, 'This is all that we have? This is all that you guys gave worked on?'" Grigg said.
Although Grigg's veto holds no weight (the president cannot veto matters of Senate procedure), Senate Pro Tempore Joel Henretty implored the Senate Tuesday to bring forth more meaningful legislation.
"We need to start doing things for the students," Henretty said.
Following Henretty's call to action, Sen. Gracie Bingham and Sen. Saul Solis presented reports from external committees. Solis met recently with Boise State's new Alcohol Coalition, a committee which will meet monthly to discuss how to raise awareness about binge drinking on campus.
Bingham reported on the Student Publications Board, which met to approve The Arbiter's 2008-09 budget and discuss their recent student fee cut. The student Senate meets every Tuesday and Thursday at 4 p.m. in the Student Union Forum.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
GRutty
posted 10/09/08 @ 2:53 PM MST
In my many years following the antics of ASBSU, this article best summarizes why BSU's student government is a ridiculous orgainization that serves no purpose other than as a "experience" blurb on its members' resumes. (Continued…)
Alexis Manifred
posted 10/09/08 @ 4:51 PM MST
The ASBSU has floundered for the last several years, most notably beginning with the fiasco that was 2006 and continuing to even now. Most notable among the failures has been the Senate; although, we cannot forget to mention problems in the executive (defacto impeachment and removal, anybody?). (Continued…)
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