Spring Break
Mecha and ASWNMU
Jeremy Kinter
Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: News
On September 26, at the third ASWNMU Senate meeting of the year, a vast number of students were present. Several students were representing various clubs that were up for recognition and re-recognition. The atmosphere was stuffy with baked anticipation. After many clubs were approved and the Senate moved on to announcements, Dr. Manzanárez, Associate Professor of Political Sciences, stood up to invite the body of ASWNMU to a documentary they were holding that weekend. I immediately recognized that this actually pertained to the denial of the MECHA Club by the Student Senate.
At the previous Senate meeting on September 12, the once recognized MECHA club of Western, a club since 1970, was denied for re-recognition by an 8 to 6 vote. The reason for the club's denial was due to MECHA's inability to adhere to rules stipulated in the student constitution. The primary reason the Senate did not pass the motion, according to ASWNMU, was that for the last two years MECHA did not participate in two student events specified in by-laws concerning recognized clubs; they did not help with homecoming or great race.
That night Dr. Manzanárez went on inviting the Senate to the event, but stated since they are not a recognized club it is kind of strange being in limbo. MECHA is currently the oldest standing club on campus not recognized by ASWNMU. Manzanárez has been the faculty advisor to MECHA for 10 years along with Dr. Bustamante, associate professor of the SOE, who has been with the club for three years. That night, Manzanárez challenged the decision made by the Student Senate and requested an appeals process be put into action. Then he went on to state that he was aware that there was no current Supreme Court Committee in ASWNMU and also requested they bring one together for the appeals process concerning the eligibility of the club. He also stated the need for the minutes in student senate meetings to be posted and that he would like a copy of the minutes from the previous meeting at which MECHA was denied.
At the previous Senate meeting on September 12, the once recognized MECHA club of Western, a club since 1970, was denied for re-recognition by an 8 to 6 vote. The reason for the club's denial was due to MECHA's inability to adhere to rules stipulated in the student constitution. The primary reason the Senate did not pass the motion, according to ASWNMU, was that for the last two years MECHA did not participate in two student events specified in by-laws concerning recognized clubs; they did not help with homecoming or great race.
That night Dr. Manzanárez went on inviting the Senate to the event, but stated since they are not a recognized club it is kind of strange being in limbo. MECHA is currently the oldest standing club on campus not recognized by ASWNMU. Manzanárez has been the faculty advisor to MECHA for 10 years along with Dr. Bustamante, associate professor of the SOE, who has been with the club for three years. That night, Manzanárez challenged the decision made by the Student Senate and requested an appeals process be put into action. Then he went on to state that he was aware that there was no current Supreme Court Committee in ASWNMU and also requested they bring one together for the appeals process concerning the eligibility of the club. He also stated the need for the minutes in student senate meetings to be posted and that he would like a copy of the minutes from the previous meeting at which MECHA was denied.
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