The Student Government Association Senate met last night, almost a week after a judiciary case was filed which threatens their existence.

Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students Jo-Anne Vanin was present at last night’s meeting in an effort to enlighten the Senate of her role within the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Vanin spoke to the Senate about the Dean of Student’s Offices and their goals of responding to students’ needs and concerns within the University.

“What our main concern is about the quality of student life outside the classroom,” Vanin said. “We’re here to deal with negative bureaucracy and try to help and work with students to resolve any issues in which they may have.”

Vanin continued by explaining the other areas of service that the Dean of Students office holds, one being short-term, interest-free student loans.

“Something a lot of students don’t know is that we give interest-free loans out to students,” Vanin said. “Sometimes they’re for medical assistance, sometimes for a students car that’s been towed and we’re trying to help them out, but it only is effective if students pay their loans, and for the most part we’ve been successful with this.”

Vanin concluded, saying that her job deals with judicial issues surrounding students and the University. Many in the SGA have made the Dean of Students judicial system an issue. She explained her responsibility was to oversee due process in protecting students’ rights on campus.

“We work with the SGA and the Judiciary Advisors and make student council available for students if they have a case to plea and are in need of consultation or advice,” Vanin said.

The Senate meeting continued as members of the Executive Cabinet spoke to the Senate regarding issues surrounding the University’s budget and what to expect in the near future in light of Sept. 11. Student Trustee Jon Laubinger spoke about the possibility of effects within the University budget and possibly that of the SGA.

Speaker Aaron Saunders spoke on the University budget in response to a motion passed by the Senate on Oct. 10, urging the administration to look at funding imbalances between athletics and academics. The motion was matched a motion passed by the Faculty Senate two weeks ago, but also called for funding to be cut from areas other than Student Affairs.

“I’ve asked them to strongly consider our motion as well as for the administration to give the SGA feedback and their reactions to what we’ve presented,” Saunders said.

Saunders continued speak to the Senate regarding the pending judiciary case that was filed against him and the Elections Commission.

The case submitted was a photocopy of the same case submitted against last year’s Election Commission and former Senate Speaker Jim Eltringham. Former Senate members Steve Morin and Steve Castillo petitioned the case on the grounds of the violation of Title 8 Chapter 4 of the SGA Constitution.

“With all the issues that we as a Senate have to deal with this year, it is just sad that there are individuals who have nothing better to do than try to hinder our progress only for their own personal retribution,” Saunders said.

Saunders further explained that the case filed failed to state how voters and candidates were affected, and that is a difference between this year’s and last year’s case.

“There is a big difference between last year and this year, in that no candidates or voters were affected by the outcome of this years elections,” Saunders said.

Chancellor of Elections Sam Balasiak came before the Senate stating that if anyone is looking for someone to blame; blame him.

“Despite popular opinion, I’m responsible for this year’s elections, not Aaron Saunders, John Sheehan or anyone on the Executive Cabinet,” Balasiak said. “And to blame the SGA leadership is wrong.”

Aside from announcements regarding the judiciary case, the Senate approved nine students to the Campus Center Student Union Commission (CCSUC).

The commission controls all vendors in the Campus Center, works with Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) and helps in the allocation of space within the CCSU complex for student use.

The Senate also approved R. Keith Kelley and Nicholas Bergeron to serve as Justices on the Student Judiciary.

The Senate did not have any main motions on last night’s agenda, and Saunders attributed the lack of motions as a result of Senators working to put together quality motions.

“We haven’t had the time to fully research good ideas for motions, last year we would have had 16 motions that would have been garbage and a waste of our time,” Saunders said. “Everyone is working to put together quality motions which in turn will help improve the SGA’s reputation with students and the administration.”