ASWSU senators heard from the Environmental Sustainability Alliance about funding issues with its Green Fund, confirmed the Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán co-chair and amended its bylaws in a meeting on Wednesday.

Confirmation

ASWSU senators unanimously voted to confirm Martin Navarrete-Contreras, junior construction management major with a minor in business administration, as co-chair of MEChA.

“I’ve been involved with the club since high school,” Navarrete-Contreras said. “I really like the work that they do.”

He said he felt out of place when he transferred from the Vancouver campus to the Pullman campus last spring, and MEChA’s weekly meetings made him feel welcome.

He said one of his primary goals as co-chair is to keep club members engaged with MEChA events throughout the school year. Online learning has decreased turnout for the club’s meetings.

Green Fund

Patrick Robichaud, Environmental Sustainability Alliance chair, spoke to ASWSU about the ESA’s Green Fund.

The ESA has exhausted its funds from spring semester, he said. While the organization still has the funding it collected at the beginning of this semester, it will need more funding to continue creating sustainability efforts on campus, he said.

The organization is looking for more voluntary contributions from students, he said.

“I think 5 percent of the students donate the optional $5,” he said. “If we got that to 10 or 15 percent, that would be more than enough.”

Bylaws

ASWSU also voted to amend its bylaws to account for situations where the senators cannot meet in person. The changes were presented by Pro Tempore Bailey McCoy and Communication Senator Ashley Delligatti.

Changes include providing virtual office hours and requiring senators to attend at least two virtual events per semester when classes are only online. Senators can also virtually file bills to the ASWSU president or vice president with these changes.