Christopher Dacanay
Sports Editor
Franciscan University Student Government (FUSG) confirmed and swore in three new justices and a chief justice to its supreme court at the 11 a.m. meeting Wednesday.
Sophomore Chief Justice Elise Langlois, junior Justice MaryGrace Byers, junior Justice Brendan Frederick and senior Justice Isaac Janney were confirmed by Spring Bills 75-78, respectively. They were each sworn in near the meeting’s close.
This followed the resignation of junior former-justice Aidan Gavin.
Monica Forsthoefel, FUSG historian, attended the meeting and gave an update on her research of FUSG’s history. She said she has been looking through student newspapers, memos and meeting minutes in order to chronicle FUSG’s past.
She said, “While some of the records are incomplete, we do have almost all of the minutes from every meeting held from about 1957 to 1983. … There’s about four boxes of materials (from the John Paul II Library) that are specifically about student government.”
Forsthoefel said that, in the future, she will give a formal, comprehensive presentation on her findings.
Treasurer Molly Propson said the contingency funds total $7,929, with $5,000 coming from reallocation. She said the total funds spent equal $10,739.33.
Senior President Alex McKenna said FUSG’s Budget Committee will meet Thursday from 3:30-9:45 p.m. to undergo Fall 2022 budget hearings with student club representatives.
Spring Bill 80 allocated $390 to Andrew Anderson to host his spring 2022 music series. The bill met contention since Anderson was not present to sponsor the bill due to illness.
Senior Sen. Jonathan Meinholz quoted Article II, Section 2 of the FUSG bylaws to prove that he could act as “an authorized representative” of Anderson. The Supreme Court upheld his claim, and the bill passed.
Separately, Meinholz attempted to pass a “memorial resolution to honor the members of the 2022 FUSG Constitutional Convention.” The resolution would have honored McKenna and senators who participated in the convention, which lasted from March 25-27.
Regarding the resolution, McKenna said, “In government, usually, memorial resolutions are not (meant) to pat on the back those members of the body that is passing the resolution. … I’m the one who has to sign it — just sort of looks weird.”
The resolution was tabled unanimously.
Other legislation:
Spring Bill 74 reallocated $250 from the Chess Club’s March 20 budget to its April 23 budget due to its inability to host a tournament at the earlier date.
Spring Bill 72 reallocated $100 from the Board Game Association’s March 4 budget to its April 22 budget.
Spring Bill 73 would have allocated $9.99 to FUSG for a Spotify Premium subscription, needed for events. It was tabled due to Propson’s ongoing inquiry into whether FUSG can charge subscriptions to its credit card.
Spring Bill 79 would have reimbursed senior Secretary Emily Adams for pizza, but it was struck down due to Adams not being the one who paid for the pizza.
FUSG’s meeting took place in Room 200 of Saints Cosmas and Damian Hall. Switching locations was necessitated by the Gallery of Research, Artistry and Community Engagement Event in the J.C. Williams Center.
Sophomore Sen. Erin Whoriskey was absent from the meeting and unexcused.
FUSG meets every Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the St. Leo Room of the J.C. Williams Center.