The University of Connecticut Undergraduate Student Government (USG) is currently in the process of hiring a new deputy speaker and legislative coordinator for the 2018-19 school year. (File photo/The Daily Campus)
The University of Connecticut Undergraduate Student Government (USG) is currently in the process of hiring a new deputy speaker and legislative coordinator for the 2018-19 school year.
Joshua Crow, USG speaker of the Senate, said the two roles are the only remaining unfilled positions in USG Senate leadership.
“My parliamentarian, Fiorella Contreras, and I are moving to fill these positions now (before) all the new senators are sworn in Wednesday,” Crow said. “This will help us deal with the increased workload that comes with all the new members of the body.”
Crow said only current USG Senators can apply to be deputy speaker and/or legislative coordinator, as the two positions are in Senate leadership and therefore are to be filled by members of the senate body.
The deputy speaker is responsible for acting as the Speaker’s second by helping him fulfill his duties, chairing Senate meetings in his absence and representing him in official meetings, Crow said.
“The legislative coordinator is responsible for helping Senators produce legislation and making sure all legislation that we pass follows the correct format,” Crow said.
Crow said the process of choosing a new deputy speaker and legislative coordinator is “rather straightforward.”
“Senate leadership is not mandated to go through any process in terms of choosing the nominee, but we ask for letters of intent to ensure those appointed gain the position based on merit and not due to favoritism,” Crow said. “In instances where it is difficult to make a decision between candidates, interviews can be conducted, but are less common. Once Senate leadership settles on a nominee, they present that nominee to the body for approval.”
Letters of intent from USG members for the two positions were due yesterday at noon, Crow said.
Crow said that USG members look for experience, passion and integrity in deputy speaker and legislative coordinator applicants.
“We want to make sure all of our members in leadership will uphold the core tenants of democracy and of USG,” Crow said. “The rest can be taught or gained over time.”
Gabriella DeBenedictis is a staff writer for The Daily Campus. She can be reached via email at gabriella.debenedictis@uconn.edu.
