A concerned group of students led by Joseph Peha interrogated Sen. Matt Lira about withholding information and illegally funding organizations at last week’s AUSA Senate meeting.
Lira, whose name was mentioned in the allegations, fielded questions from a number of students involving the Senate’s supposed funding of The University of Denver Organization for Cultural and Ideological Diversity and Equality, an organization that never came to fruition. Lira and the Senate provided facts and testimony proving the allegations to be false.
“Every piece of evidence proves that the allegations are completely false,” said Lira. “At the end of the meeting, every concerned voice was heard and it became clear to everyone that none of the allegations held any bearing in reality.”
The phantom organization was supposedly a spin-off from the College Republicans, making its funding illegal. Though the organization never materialized and was never funded by the Senate, such miscommunications involving re-licensing and funding of organizations may have spawned other student concerns.
Peha voiced student concerns that the Senate was disconnected and aloof from the student body.
“We want discussion and we want new ideas,” said Peha. “As students, we want to promote more discourse with Senate.”
Senate President Chris Adams tackled that issue, as he believes that the concerns are unwarranted.
“This is probably one of the most connected Senates I’ve seen since I’ve been at the university,” he said. “This Senate has constant interactions with students and we are in personal contact with many of the groups; something other Senates never did.”
After fielding all of the comments and concerns at the meeting, the Senate proved its innocence on all counts and the matter was resolved. Adams and Lira both expressed the personal blow this accusation dealt them.
“Every individual who has dealt directly with the Senate this year has come away impressed,” Lira said. “Chancellor Ritchie and the Board of Trustees call us “the best Senate that they’ve ever seen,” and that goes back a couple of decades.”
On that note, Adams announced that the Senate has raised $10,000 for undergraduate scholarships this year.
Senator Amber Kirchenschlager thanked her fellow senators for their support after the sorority house break-ins. She expressed her gratitude and cited the “community” of the 2004 Senate.
Sen. Jennifer Woolf tendered her resignation Woolf cited “medical issues” as her reason for leaving the Senate. She said that she will return next year.
