During the University of Rhode Island’s Student Senate meeting this week, there was heavy debate over the censure, a formal expression of disapproval, of two senators as well as several clubs recognized by Senate.
A bill was proposed to censure Senator Michael LeBeau on the grounds that he exceeded the three absences allowed by Senate, having 3.5 unexcused absences. 1.5 of these absences were caused by a class that ends at 6:45 p.m. Another unexcused absence was due to LeBeau attending a Red Sox game instead of a student senate meeting. LeBeau could have faced impeachment, as the bylaws state that after exceeding three absences, a senator should be removed from the general body. This bill ultimately failed to pass.
Another bill concerning the censure of Senator Avi Shrivastava was proposed. This bill was presented due to Shrivastava’s “decline to succeed the vacated chair” of the External Affairs Committee when the previous chair resigned over the summer. This violated the bylaws of Student Senate wherein a vice chair is supposed to “assume the duties of the Chairperson until the Senate elects a new Chairperson.” Shrivastava stated that he was “not aware [he] was breaking the bylaws.” This bill also failed.
Bills to recognize the American Sign Language Club, URI Public Health Club and the Mixed Martial Arts Club as funded student organizations were passed. A bill to recognize the URI Women’s Club Volleyball as a funded affiliate student organization was passed as well.
During the meeting, Senator Austin Vutech motioned to set an adjournment time at 8:05 p.m. so that the Senate meeting would adjourn in time to watch the Red Sox game. This motion was not passed, but Vutech continuously motioned to end debate on bills throughout the meeting, which was met with opposition by senate members.