ASG senate acknowledges need for openness

Luke Garrett / News Editor / The USD Vista

Associated Student Government (ASG) senate acknowledged the need for greater transparency, yet also voted to end the hearing of the public while an hour still remained on the senate clock.  

The student body initially granted around five minutes to the hearing of the public on Thursday, Oct. 10.

Newly-elected senators Simon Mizrahi and Justin Daus each voted to extend the hearing of the public, granting 10 additional minutes.  

“I am looking to make this a more transparent government,” Mizrahi said. “I want journalists to have more time to ask questions. We are supposed to be here until 2:30 p.m. because that is why we were elected.”

Thursday’s senate adjourned at 1:30 p.m., after Mizrahi’s second motion to extend time failed, making it the third senate in a row to end an hour early. 

During the allotted time, ASG senate responded to questions regarding senior Tyler Arden’s request for greater transparency during the prior meeting.

“He had a valid point and we all have no reason to say why he was in the wrong,” Speaker of the Senate Carolina Moreno Armenta said. “We notice the transparency issue on campus, with senate and ASG exec. From the very beginning, we have talked about transparency and you can bet we are working on it.” 

Despite this, the ASG senate minutes, a required weekly transcript of senate proceedings, are still unavailable to student view. The minutes have been approved by senate but their publishing is “still in the works,” according to Armenta. 

 President Rivera also denied an interview with The USD Vista for the third week in a row, citing unfavorable coverage of ASG in year’s past. 

Senator Mizrahi commented on the President’s decision after the meeting adjourned. 

“I think that her decision should be reviewed,” Mizrahi said. “I think being open to the press is fundamental. It’s how students hear what is going on. I think it is a fundamental aspect of our democracy in our country and at our school. I think democracy should be supported.”

The majority of the senators remained silent during the meeting. Out of the 30 senators, more than 20 have never made a motion or said a word during senate proceedings this year.

Retraction: The ASG senate minutes were made available to students through the ASG website on Oct. 17.