LEADERS: Michelle Nance

Michelle Nance - Senate Chair

SENATE - Since her unanimous election last spring to the post of Senate Chair, Michelle Nance has already been tested by an especially active session. With a full docket of legislation, some of which has been particularly controversial (see R-18-4), Ms. Nance has shown herself to be a capable moderator and a strong leader in Senate. Aside from the day to day demands of the position, Michelle will also be asked to oversee the transition of Senate into the new membership model passed last year. This change will be the most dramatic for Senate in many years just as interest in Senate has expanded far beyond levels seen in recent years.


Michelle brings a strong resume of Senate involvement with her to the position of Chair. Serving previously as both the Oversight Committee Chair and the Senate Vice Chair, she is well known to Senators and has earned their respect. On her watch the size of Senate has far surpassed the 120 senator mark that was debated as a potential cap last year. This growth has both given credibility to the institution and has presented logistical challenges that have both strengthened Michelle's position as she seeks to push forward the Senate's agenda at the board level in terms of policy and ask the Board for logistical supports (i.e. more voting clickers etc.)


Looking forward, Michelle will be ever more focused on making the transition to the new Senate membership structure scheduled to be in full effect Fall Quarter 2012. She has thus far indicated that the transition may commence on a voluntary basis this and next quarter. This would be a wise move on her part both to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible but also to ensure that the proper political willpower is expended to make it happen at all.


With at least one more year ahead of her, Michelle's political ambitions for next year are as of now unconfirmed however it can be expected that she will be seeking to stay involved in the upper echelon of ASUW's leadership. No doubt as Spring approaches, we will be following her next moves closely. For now, she is responsible for a significant amount of work in Senate and she shouldn't forget that responsibility too soon.

ASOSU Student Leaders Find Familiar Flaws in ASUW Structure

SEATTLE - On July 20-21 members of the Associated Students of Oregon State University (ASOSU) executive cabinet met with members of the incoming ASUW Board of Directors to build connections and share experiences. Apparently the Oregon State representatives were quickly made aware of the flawed governance structure ASUW currently employs. According to a post in the ASOSU Cabinent's blog:

We learned a lot and made many connections with their method of government at U.W. to our own method of madness. We compared and contrasted what worked and what didn’t in terms of advocating for students. (see full post)

Sources tell me that members of the ASOSU are not happy with how their government works and didn't find much of an improvement at UW. Just more evidence to show that reform is desperately needed in ASUW. Stay tuned for our specific reform proposals.