Farley receives approval for student body treasurer

Junior Matt Farley will be student body treasurer after all.

After failing to receive the approval of the 94th Student Congress in March, Farley’s nomination was approved at the first session of the newly inducted 95th Student Congress on Wednesday.

He was unanimously approved, an action that has spurred criticism of newly inaugurated Student Body President Christy Lambden, who called for the renomination.

“I’m here with exactly the same person,” Lambden said when addressing Student Congress members at the meeting.

“I really believe Matt is the best person to fill the position.”

On March 26, Farley’s nomination failed to receive the required two-thirds approval of the 94th Student Congress, which voted 15-11 to approve the junior.

Farley served as executive assistant to former Student Body Treasurer Shrija Ghosh this year, but several members of Student Congress said they doubted Farley’s experience.

This suggested lack of experience — especially regarding the structure of committees that consider student fees — was again a topic of discussion at the Wednesday meeting, but Farley’s nomination was nonetheless approved by a vote of 24-0.

“He may not have held all the titles, but being (at student fee audit committee meetings) and seeing the process firsthand is indispensable,” said Jocelyn Burney, chairwoman of the oversight and advocacy committee.

Despite the unanimous vote, several Student Congress members said that renominating the same person to a new body was inappropriate.

Representative Michael Smalenberger said that despite his support of Farley, he believes the renomination is not the most effective way to conduct business with Student Congress.

“(Renominating the same person) is extremely disrespectful to the previous (Student) Congress,” he said.

But Student Congress members said the urgency of the situation and endorsements by members helped lead to Farley’s approval.

Ghosh implored Student Congress to approve a nominee at the meeting so the incoming treasurer could begin forging relationships with administrators.

If a treasurer was not approved, Brittany Best, chairwoman of the finance committee, would serve in the role.

But this would prevent her from effectively fulfilling either job, said Will Stelpflug, chairman of the rules and judiciary committee.

“Considering the gravity of the situation, I think we need to re-evaluate the situation,” he said of the renomination before the vote.

“This is the only option at the moment.”

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