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Legislative Branch

Speaker of the Senate

Britney Sharp

assousenate@sou.edu

The Legislative Branch conisists of senator positions from a wide range of different programs. Senators come to together to discuss topics on campus-wise issues, hear from different organizations, formulate action plans, and vote to make changes within ASSOU and across campus.

If you would like to apply to be a Senator, click here!

Position Descriptions:

Oregon Center for the Arts Senator.

Constituents include any members of the ASSOU with a registered major, minor or graduate program within the programs of Art and Art History; Creative Writing; Emerging Media and Digital Arts; Music; or Theatre Arts; and any student studying under or affiliated with the Academic Division for the Center for the Arts. This Senator shall meet with the Division Director as needed.

Athletics and Recreation Senator.

Constituents include any member of the ASSOU who currently participates in an athletic program(s) administered by SOU Athletics, Outdoor Programs, Intramural /Club sports or Recreational programs. This Senator shall also be a member of the Athletic Advisory Committee of ASSOU and the Black and Red Crew of SOU.

Business, Communication, and Environmental Studies Senator.

Constituents include any member of the ASSOU with a registered major, minor or graduate program within the programs of Business; Communication; or Environmental Studies meet with the Division Director as needed.

Campus Life and Housing Senator.

Constituents include any member of the ASSOU living in housing or residence halls administered by University Housing or Family Housing. This Senator shall also attend meetings of the Residence Hall Association (RHA) and serve as a liaison between that body and ASSOU. This Senator shall also attend meetings of the RHA Area Councils and the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) when requested, and shall also sit as a member of the Housing Policy Committee of SOU.

Clubs and Organizations Senator.

Constituents include any member of the ASSOU who currently participates in educational activities, clubs, campus organizations, or programs. This Senator shall also attend meetings of the Inter-Club Council and serve as a liaison between that body and ASSOU. This Senator shall also sit as a member of the Inter-Club Council Allocation Committee.

Education, Health and Leadership Senator.

Constituents include any member of the ASSOU with a registered major, minor or graduate program within the programs of Education; Health and Physical Education; Outdoor Adventure Leadership; or Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC); and any student studying under or affiliated with the Academic Division for Education, Health and Leadership. This Senator shall meet with the Division Director as needed.

Environmental Affairs Senator.

Constituents include any member of the ASSOU with an interest in environmental issues. This Senator shall serve as a liaison between the ECOS Resource Center and ASSOU and shall serve as a member of the Environmental Affairs Committee of ASSOU and hold meetings with its coordinator as needed. This Senator shall also sit as a member on the Stevenson Union Steering Committee.

Gender Equity and Sexual Diversity Senator.

Constituents include any member of the ASSOU who are affected by issues that focus on gender equality and sexual diversity. This Senator shall serve as a liaison between the Queer Student Union, Women’s Resource Center, the Queer Resource Center, and ASSOU, and shall meet with the respective coordinators of these resource centers as needed. This Senator shall also sit as a member of the Multicultural Affairs Committee of ASSOU and the Stevenson Union Steering Committee.

Humanities and Culture Senator.

Constituents include any member of the ASSOU with a registered major, minor or graduate program within the programs of Anthropology; English; Foreign Languages; Gender Studies and Women’s Studies; Native American Studies; or International Studies; and any student studying under or affiliated with the Academic Division for Humanities and Culture. This Senator shall meet with the Division Director as needed.

International Senator.

Constituents include any member of the ASSOU with a strong identification, allegiance or interest with one or more nations abroad. This Senator shall attend meetings of the International Student Association and serve as a liaison between that body and ASSOU, and shall sit as a member of the Multicultural Affairs Committee of ASSOU.

Multicultural Affairs Senator.

Constituents include any member of the ASSOU who are involved in cultural or diversity issues. This Senator shall also serve as a liaison between the Multicultural Resource Center and ASSOU, and meet with its coordinator as needed. This Senator shall be engaged with identity-based groups including but not limited to the Black Student Union, the Latino Student Union, the Native American Student Union, and the Ho’opa’a Hawaii Club. This Senator shall also sit as a member of the Multicultural Affairs Committee of ASSOU and the Stevenson Union Steering Committee.

Nontraditional, Higher Education Center (HEC) and Military Affairs Senator.

Constituents include any member of the ASSOU who is a nontraditional student; or who is currently a part of or has ever been a part of the Armed Services; or who have attended a class at the Higher Education Center for at least one term during the academic year. This Senator shall serve as a liaison between the Commuter Resource Center, the Veteran’s Resource Office, the Higher Education Center Student Government and ASSOU, shall meet with their respective coordinators as needed. This Senator shall also serve as a member of the Stevenson Union Steering Committee and the Childcare Subsidy Allocation Committee.

Social Sciences Senator.

Constituents include any member of the ASSOU with a registered major, minor, or graduate program within the programs of Criminal Justice; Economics; History; Political Science; Psychology; or Sociology; and any student studying under or affiliated with the Academic Division for Social Sciences. This Senator shall meet with the Division Director as needed.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Senator.

Constituents include any member of the ASSOU with a registered major, minor, or graduate program within the programs of Biology; Chemistry; Computer Science; Engineering; Mathematics; or Physics; and any student studying under or affiliated with the Academic Division for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). This Senator shall meet with the Division Director as needed.

Accessibility Senator.

Constituents include any member of the ASSOU with a disability, documented or undocumented, regardless of whether or not they utilize the services offered by SOU’s Disability Resource office. This Senator is not required to provide documentation or proof of any disability including but not limited to those physical, emotional, or mental in nature. This senator must meet with the Coordinator of Disability Resources at least once per term.

The Speaker of the Senate.

Constituents include all senators and any non-officer members of the ASSOU that interacts with the Senate Body. The Speaker of the Senate shall serve as the leader, coordinator, and manager of the Senate Body and its respective officers, and chair all meetings of the Senate. The Speaker shall be elected from the selection of officers within the Senate body in the spring term at the Senate meeting at which the new Senate shall take its oath of office or whenever the position of Speaker is vacant. During this transition between the swearing in of all new Senators and the election of a Senate Speaker, or at any other time that there is neither a Senate Speaker nor a Vice Speaker in office, the acting ASSOU Chief Justice shall serve as the Senate facilitator until a new Speaker is elected. The election of the Speaker shall be made by a majority vote of the Senate body. Upon the election of a Senate Speaker, the newly elected Speaker shall resign from their office as “Senator” of their constituency, and shall be known only as the “Speaker of the Senate.” When the new Speaker of the Senate resigns as “Senator” of their constituency, that vacant Senate seat shall be filled by the Senate in the manner described in Section 4 of these Rules. Upon vacancy of the office of Speaker, the Vice Speaker shall assume that office upon the majority vote of the Senate body. If the Senate does not vote to confirm the Vice Speaker as the new Speaker of the Senate, then the standard election process for the Speaker shall ensue. In this case, the acting ASSOU Chief Justice shall facilitate this election process. If neither the Speaker not the Vice Speaker are available to chair scheduled meeting of the Senate, then the Speaker may designate a Senator to chair that meeting. Upon vacancy of the office of Senate, the Vice Speaker shall assume that office upon the majority vote of the Senate body. If the Senate does not vote to confirm the Vice Speaker as the new Speaker of the Senate, then the Speaker shall be elected from the selection of officers within the Senate body. In this case, the acting ASSOU Chief Justice shall facilitate this election process. The Speaker shall have weekly meetings with the Vice Speaker to prepare for the next upcoming Senate meeting and the general business of the Legislative Branch. The Speaker shall be a non-voting member of the Senate body, unless in the case of a tie. The Speaker will then cast a tie-breaking vote.

Vice Speaker of the Senate.

The Vice Speaker of the Senate shall be a Senator elected in the Spring term at the Senate meeting at which the new Senate shall take its oath of office or whenever the position of Vice Speaker is vacant. The election of the Vice Speaker shall be made by a majority vote of the Senate body. Upon vacancy of the office of Vice Speaker, a new Vice Speaker shall be elected from among the seated Senate membership. The Vice Speaker shall be charged with presiding over meetings of the Senate in case of the communicated absence of the Speaker, or at the discretion of the Speaker. The Vice Speaker shall be the official Timekeeper of the Senate meeting, working with the Speaker to limit discussion on agenda items to the specified time amounts. The Vice Speaker shall be a voting member of the Senate body.

Administrative Director.

The Administrative Director may not be a Senator, but shall be an officer of ASSOU. The term of office for this position shall be from the beginning of the academic year in fall term until the end of the academic year in spring term. The Administrative Director will work to ensure that Executive, Senate, and All- ASSOU meeting agendas are posted on the bulletin boards in Sours and in the Raider Nest. The Administrative Director shall work to ensure that all meeting minutes are distributed within 24 hours after assigned meetings reach adjournment. The Administrative Director shall assist in the preparation of ASSOU Legislative Branch general meetings, All-ASSOU General Assembly Meetings, and other ASSOU scheduled meetings as specified by the ASSOU President with the disbursement and retrieval of materials, handouts, and equipment. The Administrative Director shall be charged with writing the minutes at all Senate meetings, as well as assisting the ASSOU Senate and the Speaker of the Senate with managing the business of the body. This officer shall be held to the same conduct standards as all other Senate members but shall be a non-voting member of the Legislative Branch. In the absence of the Administrative Director, the Vice Speaker of the Senate shall act as the official minute taker at all meetings of the Senate.

Executive Branch

Student Body President

Alexis Phillips

SU 305

assoupresident@sou.edu

(541) 552-6653

The Executive Branch conisists of director positions from a wide range of different programs. Directors work closely with their constintuents, as well as ensuring the success of ASSOU and providing support to the student body. The Executive Branch works directly with SOU's President Cabinet and gives updates on completed and anticipated tasks every term.

If you would like to apply, check back another time for the application!

Position Descriptions:

Student Body President.

The President shall be a voting member of the Oregon Students Association Board of Directors. The President shall be a liaison between the student body and administration. The President shall be in frequent contact with the local city government, and shall attend or appoint someone to attend City Council meetings. The President shall be the chair of the Heads of Government committee The President shall work with the Director of Finance and the ASSOU Advisor to manage payroll for ASSOU officers. The President will oversee and communicate with the OSA Campus Organizer. The President shall ensure that shared governance is being upheld and that all university committees have student representation and recommend student members to sit on university committees to the Committee on Committees.

Student Body Vice President.

The Vice President shall serve as a liaison between the Executive Branch and all other branches of ASSOU. The Vice President shall sit on the Heads of Government Committee. The Vice President shall serve as a voting member on the Committee on Committees. The Vice President is responsible for the delegation of Text Share. The Vice President shall work with the OSA Campus Organizer on the transitioning process for ASSOU executive officers and interns. The Vice President shall help the President compile the agenda for the weekly cabinet meetings.

Director of Public Relations.

The Director of Public Relations shall be responsible for updating and maintaining the ASSOU Website and email communication to the student body as needed. The Director of Public Relations shall create, update, and maintain the presence of social media for ASSOU. The Director of Public Relations will work with the President and Vice President to obtain and disperse information regarding the work done by ASSOU to the student body in order to build awareness and increase transparency. The Director of Public Relations will coordinate a yearlong effort of ASSOU tabling to promote and create a friendly atmosphere between representatives of student government with the entire student body, including, but not limited to, faculty, and institution administration. The Director of Public Relations shall oversee and work with the Administrative Director to ensure that all information from scheduled ASSOU meetings is posted onto the ASSOU website within 24 hours upon retrieval. The Director of Public Relations shall maintain all ASSOU bulletin boards through the posting of all meeting minutes, materials, and flyers to support ASSOU transparency. 3.3.7 The Director of Public Relations shall routinely check all ASSOU suggestions boxes; deliver in confidence all suggestions slips/materials either directly to the President or Vice President at the soonest available time.

Director of Finance and Administration.

The Director of Finance and Administration shall be the chief financial officer for ASSOU and oversee the ASSOU budget. The Director of Finance and Administration shall oversee the Student Fee Process and act as chair of the Student Fee Committee. The Director of Finance and Administration shall sit on the ASSOU Budget Committee. The Director of Finance and Administration shall work with the President and the ASSOU Advisor to manage payroll, reimbursement requests, and trip arrangements.

Director of Gender Equity and Sexual Diversity.

The Director of Gender Equity and Sexual Diversity shall be a member of the Oregon Student Equal Rights Alliance (OSERA) board and shall assist in finding other students to fill positions for that body at the start of every school year and when there are vacancies on the board. The Director of Gender Equity and Sexual Diversity shall coordinate with the Women’s Resource Center, the Queer Resource Center, and gender- and LGBTQIA+-related organizations on campus to create activities, programming, and education relating to gender and sexuality. The Director of Gender Equity and Sexual Diversity will work with the Director of Multicultural Affairs to coordinate with multiple resource centers for events and outreach. The Director of Gender Equity and Sexual Diversity shall work with the Director of Public Relations to ensure events and resource centers are promoted properly.

Director of Multicultural Affairs.

The Director of Multicultural Affairs shall be a member of the Oregon Students of Color Coalition (OSCC) board and shall assist in finding other students to fill positions for that body at the start of every year and when there are vacancies on the board. The Director of Multicultural Affairs shall work with the Multicultural Resource Center, and other multicultural organizations on campus to assist in the creation of activities, programming, and education, enhancing and celebrating diversity on campus. The Director of Multicultural Affairs shall have monthly meetings with the Multicultural Resource Center coordinator and shall attend the Multicultural Coalition meetings. The Director of Multicultural Affairs will work with the Director of Gender Equity and Sexual Diversity to coordinate with multiple resource centers for events and outreach. The Director of Multicultural Affairs shall work with the Director of Public Relations to ensure events and resources are promoted properly.

Director of Governmental Affairs.

The Director of Governmental Affairs shall be a voting member on the Oregon Student Association Board of Directors (BOD). The Director of Governmental Affairs shall be ASSOU’s liaison and expert with local, state, and federal government issues, including acting as a liaison to the Oregon Legislature. The Director of Governmental Affairs shall chair the Vote OR Vote Campaign in conjunction with the Oregon Student Association. The Director of Governmental Affairs shall sit on the Legislative Action Team with representatives from the administration, faculty and classified staff.

Chief of Staff.

The Chief of Staff shall serve as the chief administrative officer of the executive branch. The Chief of Staff shall conduct one on one meetings with each cabinet member at least every two weeks. The Chief of Staff shall compile a report regarding the content of their one on one meetings, to be delivered to the President and Vice President within 2 business days of the meeting The Chief of Staff will serve as the primary aid to the President and Vice President in ensuring accountability among cabinet members. The Chief of Staff will be in charge of organizational assistance to the entire staff through meetings, reservations, scheduling, and institutional knowledge and assisted by executive interns. The Chief of Staff will work to seat cabinet members on all pertinent committees.

Director of Recreation, Outdoor and Athletic Programs (ROAP).

The Director of ROAP shall be ASSOU’s liaison with Athletics, Intramural and Club Sports, and Outdoor Programs. The Director of ROAP shall meet with the Director of Campus Recreation and SRC, the Outdoor Program Coordinator, Intramural Sports & Sports Club Coordinator, and the Director of Athletics at least once a month. The Director of ROAP shall act as chair of the Recreation Center Advisory Committee.

Director of Student Advocacy.

The Director of Student Advocacy shall work as a personal advocate for students in need, and shall especially work closely with Student Affairs to advocate on behalf of students and ensure that students are being treated fairly in disciplinary hearings and actions, such as those relating to the student code of conduct. The Director of Student Advocacy shall be the liaison with the Health and Wellness Center. The Director of Student Advocacy shall serve as a resource for students looking to get involved on campus. The Director of Student Advocacy shall represent all students attending SOU as needed under the purview of an ASSOU officer. The Director of Student Advocacy shall serve as chair of the Childcare Subsidy Allocation Committee, and shall ensure that all pertinent information is prepared and ready to be discussed before the committee meets.

Director of Sustainability and Civic Engagement.

The Director of Sustainability and Civic Engagement shall serve as ASSOU representative for the Sustainability Council. The Director of Sustainability and Civic Engagement shall sit on the Environmental Affairs Committee. The Director of Sustainability and Civic Engagement shall work with relevant SOU faculty on the development, implementation and management of the SOU Green House, the Farm at SOU. The Director of Sustainability and Civic Engagement shall work with the ASSOU President to plan an All ASSOU Service project each term.

Administrative Director.

The Administrative Director will work to ensure that Executive, Senate, Judicial, and All-ASSOU meeting agendas are posted on the bulletin boards in Sours. The Administrative Director shall serve as the designated recorder of minutes at all scheduled ASSOU Executive, Senate, Judicial, All-ASSOU General Assembly Meetings, and other ASSOU scheduled meetings as specified by the ASSOU President. The Administrative Director shall work to ensure that all meeting minutes are distributed within 24 hours after assigned meetings reach adjournment. The Administrative Director shall assist in the preparation of ASSOU Executive Branch general meetings, All-ASSOU General Assembly Meetings, and other ASSOU scheduled meetings as specified by the ASSOU President with the disbursement and retrieval of materials, handouts, and equipment.

Judicial Branch

Chief Justice

Haden Gobel

assoujudicial@sou.edu

The Judicial Branch consists of justices that provide support at every Legislative and Executive Branch, as well as committee meetings, to ensure the legitimacy of ASSOU. Justices provide support to ASSOU members and the student body in the event of a grievances.

If you would like to apply, check back another time for the application!

Position Descriptions:

The Chief Justice.

The Chief Justice shall be the chair of all Judicial Branch Meetings. The Chief Justice shall facilitate the work of the Judicial Branch. The Chief Justice shall abstain from voting except when it is necessary to break a tie. The Chief Justice shall sit on the Heads of Government committee. The Chief Justice shall post and attend Weekly offices hours in order for the Chief to stay accessible for ASSOU and the student body. The Chief Justice shall work with the University Coordinator, Student Conduct and Co-Curricular Accommodations and other members of ASSOU to facilitate Student Conduct Boards.

The Associate Justices.

The Associate Justices shall be paid officers of ASSOU. The Associate Justices will attend meetings of the Legislative Branch, Executive Branch, and any other relevant ASSOU meetings on a rotating basis with the Chief Justice. The Associate Justices shall post and attend office hours in order that they stay accessible for ASSOU and the student body. The Associate Justices shall be required to attend official branch meetings. One Associate Justice shall be voted Vice-Chair (Section 6.3) by the rest of the Branch. The Associate Justices shall sit on Student Conduct Boards.

The At-Large Justices.

The At-Large Justices shall hold no Officer position within ASSOU. The At-Large Justices shall exist in order to represent the larger student body, bring objective opinion, and help maintain the integrity of ASSOU. The At-Large Justices shall attend official meetings of the Judicial Branch The At-Large Justices shall be appointed through an application process to be facilitated by the Chief Justice and be confirmed by Senate (the Executive Branch shall have the ability to veto this appointment.) The At-Large Justices shall have voting power at all official meetings of the Judiciary.

Internship Program

Internships are a great way to get immersed in ASSOU and gain valuable experience in student government. As an intern, you'll learn valuable organizing skills and build lifelong friendships. Your assigned mentor will guide and support you.

For more information, email Devon, our Oregon Student Association campus organizer, at osa@sou.edu or visit Devon in the Sours Student Leadership Center, upstairs in the Stevenson Union, room 308.

Volunteer Opportunities