ASUSU Votes to Have Reading Days Before Finals

After a heated discussion regarding legislation implementing reading days before finals week, the Associated Students of Utah State University Executive Council approved the resolution.

Various members of the council were divided between passing the resolution and waiting until an accurate random survey of student opinion is performed. Ultimately, the resolution will implement two non-class study days before finals week but will require students to begin the school year a couple of days early.

Ericka Ensign, ASUSU Academic vice president has been working on this piece of legislation as part of her platform since last summer.

"I believe 100 percent that we have significant support for these reading days. I'm looking at every single angle and trying to do this in a fair and just way. I made that promise to the students to get these reading days," she said.

Previously, the council tabled the resolution so the survey could be conducted. Because of time constraints, however, Mike Waggoner, ASUSU executive vice president, moved to reconsider the resolution. Ensign intends to present the resolution to the university's Executive Committee at Stater's Council on March 30.

Mike Brockbrader, ASUSU Organizations and Traditions vice president, said he felt they were pushing the issue forward too quickly without having collected relevant data to support the resolution.

"It's a great piece of legislation, but let's give it an opportunity to succeed, not fail," he said.

Johnny Navarrete, ASUSU Education senator, thought it might be better to have next year's council work on the resolution, and then vote on it.

"If we move forward now, it's going to look like we're trying to rush it," he said.

Ensign will present the resolution to the Faculty Senate this semester if the results of the survey indicate that the majority of the student body is in favor of implementing reading days. Even though the survey will accurately represent the student body, she said, Ensign feels it is the council's job to vote on those type of issues.

"There's a difference between doing what the students want and doing what we feel is best for the students. We as credible leaders should be able to ascertain what the students want," she said.

"I think it's one of the best pieces of legislation that has come to this body this year. We could survey everything we have done this year, and if we did, we would be stuck on surveys," she said.

ASUSU passed the reading days resolution. Council members plan to go forward with the resolution unless the survey results show a lack of student support.

The survey will be completed within the next month. If the resolution is passed by the Faculty Senate, it will go into effect for the 2004-05 school year.

In other items, the council decided against taking part in a effort by BYU to ban having guns on college campuses.

"I really don't think this is something USU wants to get involved with," Bybee said.

The council will meet with President Kermit L. Hall on March 6 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Taggart Student Center to discuss the status of next year's budget.

Camey Hatch, ASUSU Public Relations vice president, announced the rehearsal for graduation will be held May 1 at 3:30 p.m. on the HPER Field.

By Marie MacKay; mmackay@cc.usu.edu
Photo by John Zsiray