The Student Senate unanimously voted to lower the student government executives and student senate speaker’s semesterly stipend to the recommended a proposed $2,500.

The change will be effective at the beginning of the Fall 2012 semester.

Members also voted in favor of holding a special election concerning the student vice president for business affairs position.

Students would be deciding whether or not to eliminate the student vice president for business affairs position; however, the chosen $2,500 cannot be altered.

The proposal, which offered a change from the former 12-credit hour stipend to a standing $2,500 stipend for each of the executives, passed unanimously with 25 votes.

Student Body President Ed Hotwagner defended the $2,500 proposal because of the extra hours they put in to the organization.

“I don’t believe $2,000 is enough for what we do,” Hotwagner said. “I do 15 official office hours (only five are required) not to mention the time when I am in my office doing homework but am still there.”

Executive Vice President Jarrod Scherle agreed.

Hotwagner asked the senate members to voice their opinions and offer feedback before voting.

“This is something we need to decide but not hastily, I’d love to hear your feedback” Hotwagner said.

Senate member Mitchell Gurick, a freshman business major, and John Poshepny, a senior business major, were among the firsts to speak up.

“There is no money, we cannot afford (the 12 credit scholarship),” Poshepny said, “It is not sustainable, people should not be doing it for the tuition wavier anyway, they should be doing it for the students.”

Gurick, who was against the special election, offered a possible amendment to Hotwagner’s proposal.

“Why not cut the compensation down to $2,000 instead of cutting the position (vice president for business affairs)?” Gurick said.

Hotwagner was not in favor of the proposed compromise.

Gurick, along with rest of the senate members eventually voted in favor of the proposal and it passed unanimously.

Hotwagner also presented a proposal that would allow him to hold special elections concerning the elimination of the student vice president for business affairs and consolidate its duties to other positions.

The duty allocations would be attributed to the student vice president for student affairs—a position currently held by Kaci Abolt.

Poshepny voiced his sadness that measure needed to be taken, but said the proposal was a necessity because of decline of enrollment and lower funding.

Gurick voted against the proposal, but said his vote was more about student participation than the financial aspect.

“It is not that I oppose the measure, something had to be done, but I felt if we cut the compensation down to $2,000—we could have kept the position,” Gurick said. “I support anything that saves us money, but why eliminate an opportunity for student participation?”

After the proposal passed, Gurick said he will support whatever decision the students and the Student Senate members make.

“We are here to serve the students and will adapt accordingly,” he said.

The elections will take place March 26-27 and all students can vote online using their Panthermail login.

The meeting also brought changes to the members of student senate as at the beginning of the meeting a new senator was appointed and at the end of the meeting, another resigned.

Brian Shields, a business graduate student, was appointed to fill a spot vacated by Blair Jones last week.

Student Senate Speaker Zach Samples appointed Shields, who was sworn in by Hotwagner earlier in the meeting.

“He has been a committee member and has been involved with the student government for a number of years,” Samples said.

Jones resigned as she works on the same night that the senate meets.

“I really loved every second of my time this year, but I don’t feel that I am able to give Student Government the time and dedication that it deserves right now,” she said in her resignation.

At last night’s meeting Pete Zizzo, sophomore math major, joined Jones as he too resigned.

“I’m leaving because of health and financial reasons, I’ve had a lot going and on and haven’t been able to work lately,” Zizzo said “I never wanted to leave this group, when I work on something I put all my focus into it.”

Zizzo said he sought the advice of his parents and friends before making his decision.

“I talked to my parents and they said I should take some time to focus on me,” he said. “I’m going to work on school and getting better.”

Zizzo said he will miss the organization and hopes to return next semester if his circumstances improve.

Along with member changes, Scherle gave a report updating the group on his letter writing campaign.

Schrele has bypassed his lasted goal and currently has 2,030 letters including 70 online letters all in support of a new science building for Eastern.

“Currently we are above 2,000 letters but numbers are one thing but this is what we are taking to Springfield,” he said making reference to a stack of letters. “I guess we’ll have to bump up our goal to 3,000 and keep going, we’ve got a month left.”

The senate also approved three funding proposals to fund a primary awareness campaign, refreshments for their open forum meeting and a reception for the nine Distinguished Professor Awards.

The Student Senate meets every Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Arcola-Tuscola Room of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

Amy Wywialowski can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected]