2008 Woodie Awards
URI Student Senate recognizes 60 groups, holds off on National Society of Black Engineers
Justin Oswald
Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: News
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The group in question, The National Society of Black Engineers, will be further discussed by the Student Organization Advisory and Review Committee in order to determine NSBE's placement as a Level III or Level IV organization. If recognized as a Level III organization, NSBE would have access to greater funding.
"NSBE will still get re-recognized after this thing is cleared up but we cannot go into the spring with out re-recognition done for [60] other groups," Cultural Affairs Chairman David Bedard said.
Two weeks ago, the senate passed an amendment 18-16 that would have recognized NSBE at Level III. But the entire bill was postponed, leading to tonight's discussion.
NSBE President Asad Akinfolaran said he was surprised at senate's decision.
"I was shocked when we got there that [senate] wouldn't allow discussion about the actual topic, only about the vote," Akinfolaran said after the meeting. "What caught me off guard was that we didn't have a chance to speak."
He called NSBE one of the most influential groups on campus during the past two years, and said that influence is exemplified by its events like a study gym and high school reach-out program.
Akinfolaran called senate's indecisiveness " a game of excuses" and pledged to come back until his group moves to Level III.
"This is a nonstop open-ended battle; we're going to go all the way with it until we get the right change that fits with what we deserve," Akinfolaran said.
But some senators warned about possible future complaints from other Level IV groups that are also academically or charitably based and feel they deserve Level III recognition.
Chairman of the External Affairs Committee Thomas Ahrens pointed out the consequences of moving NSBE to Level III.