The 68th Senate of the Associated Students of New Mexico State University began their meeting on Feb. 20 by addressing ongoing concerns about a lack of professionalism in the senate. Amongst the bills introduced, one pertained to funding the Memorial Windmill, which left the Senate split.
Sen. Aya Alsheikh kicked off the meeting by addressing the senate, bringing light to a growing lack of professionalism amongst members. She expressed during the prior senate meeting on Feb. 6 that many members could be seen laughing and making faces while others were talking.
“Last senate meeting, there was a lot happening, a lot of disrespect that was happening on the floor which I was so upset wasn’t stopped,” Alsheikh said. “I have called it out multiple times to the chair. I made multiple points of orders and nothing happened. I was basically just shut down. It was very upsetting.”
“I did call out on a person who was laughing, somebody who was talking, and I just felt that was crazy, that I had to do it,” Alsheikh said. “Not the person who was, you know, leading the meeting, or somebody at the front who was seeing what was happening. We did kind of come to terms, they didn’t see it, but I could hear it. I’m pretty sure a lot of people could hear it.”
She also reminded the senate members of the appropriate use of group chats and all senate meetings are recorded from the back of the room. Telling them, if anyone is using their computer for non-Senate purposes, or using said group chats, it is visible to the entire livestream.
The meeting after continued as normal until the introduction of Bill 256. Presented by senators from the agricultural department Kolby Graham Taylor, Alyssa Girard, and Christopher Hamilton, the bill that would seek to give the Agriculture Department $20,000 to rebuild the windmill in front of the agriculture building.
This windmill, according to the proposing Senate members, resided on NMSU’s campus longer than the Horseshoe. However, three years ago it had to be taken down due to water damage. If the bill were to be instated, the money would go towards restoring it and updating windmill parts to be more weather resistant.
This bill split the Senate with the main cause being Bylaw 7-6-4g. Last semester, the bylaw was adjusted to limit spending for NMSU departments to $10,000. However, the wording of the bylaw split the senate.
The original bylaw was passed to limit emergency funding, but past oversight led to the ruling being extended to other funds, like the cardinal fund. The cap prevents ASNMSU’s one-time use cardinal funding from reaching its full capabilities, meaning the senate cannot award the agriculture department $20,000.
The first proposed solution was suspending the bylaw, allowing Bill 256 to not fall under the spending limit instituted. Sen. Hebah Alhalholy pointed out if that were to happen, it would be the second bylaw senators suspended this semester.
“I think we suspended the bylaws once before this semester and I think if we should suspend it again,” Alhalholy said. “I think it just sets a really bad precedent for the senate because it’s a really big thing to suspend bylaws.”
Despite criticism, some senate members felt the windmill was worth suspending the bylaw, as it was never meant to extend to the cardinal fund. Additionally, they said the benefits of restoring the Memorial Windmill outweighed the negatives of suspending the bylaw.
Sen. Gage Anderson was one of the strongest proponents of the bill. On the floor, gave a lengthy speech on why he believed the windmill was worth bylaw suspension and the importance of its legacy.
“I am taking a history class right now, professionalism in history,” Anderson said. “… we were looking through an array of photographs taken of New Mexico State’s campus throughout the years, back when we were New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts. Right back in the days of old, back when they were flying balloons up to take pictures of things, and you know what was there even before the Horseshoe? That windmill, that’s right, that windmill, and same with those windmills out in the bone yard over there by the police station. Those windmills are there. That’s legacy, right? A lot of buildings on this campus are not a part of us anymore.”
After much debate, Bill 256 was tabled for another day, giving Sen. Taylor and other proposing senators more time to work out the logistics of the bill. This was not the end of the debate, however.
On the floor, Hamilton worked on a new Bill to amend bylaw 7-6-4g’s oversight. In only 30 minutes, Hamilton wrote Bill 281 and called for a Committee of the Whole, where the entire Senate would discuss and vote on the bill.
This bill would differentiate emergency and cardinal spending in the case of 7-6-4g, allowing the senate to use the cardinal fund to its maximum potential. It also meant the Memorial Windmill bill could pass without having to suspend any bylaws.
While Alsheikh and others raised concerns about the short period the bill was made in, the senate voted to pass the bill. However, Bill 256 is still tabled, leaving the decision for another meeting.
“I am all about boosting student morale. A lot of students like traditions,” Taylor said. “I myself loved traditions since high school and everything. So, I think that’s the main point, bring back the tradition that was already here, but it was to nobody’s fault, it was taken down. I know I got to experience it as a freshman, but not others after me. The second semester actually, [it was] gone. So traditions, everything, heritage is an amazing part of this college, and of this country. I believe it is important to bring that back, especially if we have the power.”
