The 2012-13 Associated Students of Madison student council appointed Andrew Bulovsky as chair in their first meeting Tuesday.
Bulovsky was unchallenged and appointed by a vote of 19-0 with two abstentions.
Bulovsky said one of his main goals as chair is to get in touch with the average student.
“I want to reach the run of the mill student, not the special interests on campus, the people that are already overly involved,” Bulovsky said. “I want to reach the student who doesn’t know what ASM stands for.”
Rep. Sarah Neibart said Bulovsky shows many of the characteristics important in an ASM chair.
“Chairs are supposed to actively listen to their committee members and to facilitate discussion, and also empower students around them to come up with ideas and think of other ways of coming up with decisions,” Neibart said. “I truly think Andrew is able to exhibit those qualities.”
Council also appointed Maria Giannopoulos as vice chair and Marie Kumerow as secretary. Both were the sole members nominated for their positions.
Giannopoulos said ASM needs to be “relevent to this campus” and as vice chair she plans to address that notion through external relations.
Council appointed representatives to multiple ASM leadership positions despite the lack of participation of nine representatives from the BOOP campaign slate.
The Student Judiciary ruled in April the representatives-elect would not be allowed to participate in the first student council meeting of the 19th session due to election violations complaints.
Many representatives voiced concern over the exclusion of members from the discussion and nomination process.
Rep. Colin Higgins said making appointments without all members present and active felt unfair and undemocratic.
“In the long run, I personally feel this will stall functioning and only provide a breeding ground of hostility,” Higgins said.
Neibart said she opposed postponing the appointments because all leaders need to act in accordance with ASM’s rules and standards.
“I want the most qualified people who will uphold all the rules of this organization and not just carelessly defy them because they don’t think they’re going to get caught,” Neibart said.
Council’s next meeting will be held Friday, at which time the nine BOOP representatives will be sworn into office and become eligible for participation in meetings.
