On Nov. 5, 2017 Colorado Mesa University Associated Student Government Senate Leader Colton Rupple filed two grievances against other senators in ASG.
The cause for these grievances was failure to meet the minimum office hours each senator is required to hold each week. Senators are required to hold a minimum of two office hours weekly, one in the ASG office and one can be held anywhere else on campus.
According to Rupple, who is required to hold senators accountable to the ASG bylaws, each senator was given a three strike rule. “I would inform them via email or in person [for the first two strikes], then on the third time I filed the grievance. I feel it was my duty to uphold the bylaws and ensure senators are completing their required two hours a week,” Rupple said.
The grievances were filed against senators Abraham Selenke, Engineering Senator, and Josiah Bohrer, Business Senator. “Grievances can be filed against any fee funded organization and the people in it to check to make sure the people or organization is following their operating procedures or Constitution,” Rupple said. “And any student can file one. The Student Supreme Court hears all grievances and rules on them accordingly.”
Both Selenke and Bohrer have multiple responsibilites on CMU’s campus. Selenke, in addition to his duties in ASG, also stands as president of Residence Hall Assembly and is a senior preparing to graduate in May. Bohrer is the CEO of CMU’s Entrepreneurship Club and acts as the state treasurer for FBLA-PBL. Both senators stated their other obligations with their extracurricular activities were reasons why they missed their office hours. Both also acknowledged that miscommunications contributed to their missed hours.
The student supreme court ruled upon these grievances and delivered sanctions to both Selenke and Bohrer. Selenke met with both the justices and the senate; the sanctions for the grievance being 4 hours of ASG community service and is not allowed to miss any more office hours. ASG hours could be going to ASG events or something more with community outreach.
According to Bohrer, “I have been given a formal warning with instructions to rectify the absence. In the future, it is probable that I will need to be absent for numerous reasons, in which I will most likely refer to a new action plan where I meet with Senate Leader Rupple prior, face to face, so there is no communication breakdown, and create a plan to make up my office hours, and any further actions that need taken.”
