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BRIEFS >News Campus friendships World Within attracts a large crowd to Oct. 22 opening ceremony.
Broncho volleyball team extends 11-game home winning streak to win IHOP Challenge. ✓ Page 6
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TODAY IN HISTORY In 1994, Union, South Carolina woman Susan Smith claimed a carjacker had driven away with her two young sons. Smith was later comvicted of drowning them in a lake.
QUOTE OF THE DAY "Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind." —William Shakespeare
WEATHER
BY SARAH BLOUNT
U
Staff Writer
CO Student Association (UCOSA) House of Representatives will meet this week to decide whether President Brian Downs misappropriated funds during the summer semester. Downs, who has , been president since Spring 2001, approved the expenditure of $6,000 on two events in August. The money spent, which was part of UCOSA's budget, has left the organization with less funding than expected for the remainder of the semester. Downs said the money spent in August would not affect any student organizations. "These funds have nothing to do with the outcome of allocations for student activities, the money was from our own operating budget." The events, a Caroline Spine concert open to the public and a UCOSA brunch, were both held on campus, Sunday, Aug. 19. Tyler Tully, Speaker of the House, said an ethics committee has been created to compile information and decide whether to send it to the UCOSA Senate. "The burden of proof lies in the ethics committee, to investigate any wrongdoing and
collect evidence to present to the House," Tully said. The House will then vote, and if three-fourths agree, an impeachment proposal will go to the Senate. However, impeachment proceedings do not necessarily warrant removal from office. "There is an accusation of misappropriation of funds, and it is our duty to investigate," Tully said. The money was budgeted through the Fall 2001 student activity fee increase. UCOSA received $80,000 based on the expected $1.15 per credit hour increase in student activity fees. Seventy percent of the $80,000 was designated for student organizations, and Downs said it was up to the UCOSA executive officers to figure out where the money should go. "We weren't aware the distribution did not go directly into our account, but to other areas of funding," Downs said. According to the UCOSA constitution, "when Congress is not in session during the summer, expenditures shall require the signature of two of the following UCOSA officers: the UCOSA president, Speaker of the House, and, or President Pro Tempore of the Senate."
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THURSDAY • OCT. 25, 2001
UCOSA President may have misused funds; ethics committee to meet and address issue
v Page 12
>Sports Winning streak
17
PHOTO BY ELISE CARR
UCOSA Speaker of the House ,Tyler Tully, and UCOSA President Pro-Tempore Jason Vaughn discuss financial aid issues Oct. 3.
Downs failed to obtain the signatures, instead obtaining a signature from UCOSA-advisor Blake Fry. . "I was not aware you had to have two signatures while Congress is not in session," Downs said.
the entirety of the charges," he said. UCOSA recognized the funding situation when Fry announced that UCOSA had less than $400 in funds to last for the remainder of the semester. The Caroline Spine concert
PHOTO BY ELISE CARR
UCOSA Speaker of the House, Tyler Tully, counts votes cast to pass an amendment to the UCO constitution. During the Oct. 15 Senate meeting, President Pro Tempore Jason. Vaughn said the executive branch has not paid close attention to statutes or the constitution. He said they need to elect officers who know what's going on. "We are setting a bad precedent for UCOSA to apply for money they shouldn't have spent." Tully said the investigation of misappropriation would start soon. "We have subpoenaed money order forms that were made while Congress was not in session," he said. "Congress will meet and go over the documents and decide whether to send it to trial." Tyler said the office has compiled 12-15 additional order forms with only one signature on them. "The Caroline Spine concert and brunch were the most expensive events, but they are not
was part of Stampede Week, and they recently reimbursed UCOSA for their portion of the expenses, bringing their total funds to $2,400. Vaughn said UCOSA needs to pass an operating budget specifically outlining how money is to be spent. Vaughn and Tully are working on a piece of legislation to keep this from happening again. "We are setting up an advisory board of alumni that are past UCOSA presidents and leaders who will walk new elects through the constitution," Vaughn said. If the Senate does hold a trial, and decides on punishment, Vaughn said it could result in a fine or removal from office. "That office has been out of whack," he said. "I want to see something happen soon, or not at all." •
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