The Student Association Senate meeting was decidedly less chaotic Sunday night, with healthy debate taking the place of the bitter division within the Senate that concluded with a walkout two weeks ago.

“We can choose to get bogged down with internal issues or we can come and do the jobs we were elected to do,” said SA President Samantha Prahl to commence the meeting.

Several vital legislative measures were dealt with, most notably the controversial Separation of Powers Act. The act was voted down by the Senate as the bill failed to receive the necessary two-thirds majority required to make a bylaw change.

The bill caused several senators to walk out of the Oct. 29 meeting when a motion to table the legislation indefinitely was proposed. The bill stated that any SA member serving as a senator and as a member of the executive branch would have to resign from one of those two roles. An amendment limiting the scope to cabinet members also failed.

Opponents of the act felt that it was unfair to force members out of their positions mid-year, and proposed that action potentially take place next year.

“It’s not fair to fire SA members with a yes vote. This bill is kicking people out the door,” said Sen. Russel Scott.

Proponents of the act feel that without a true separation of powers in SA, there will always be a conflict of interest in performing dual-roles.

“We need to focus on the 28,000 students that this act would benefit, not the five people that may have their feelings hurt,” said Sen. Andrew Hable.

In other legislation, new Senate Finance Committee bylaws were approved, clarifying presidential veto powers and addressing problems that arose last year when WISPIRG challenged a funding veto by ex-SA President Russell Rueden. The bylaw change affirms that the president has veto power over all SFC actions, including the allocation of funds to student organizations. The Senate can still override the veto with a two-thirds vote.

It was also announced that a Common Council hearing on Residential Preferred Parking will take place on Nov. 22 at 10 a.m. in City Hall, a hearing students are encouraged to attend.

“We need as many people as possible to speak on how detrimental this proposal (RPP) will be for students,” said SA Legislative Affairs Director Kyle Duerstein.

SA is arranging rides for students who need transportation to City Hall. Anyone interested should contact the SA office for more information.

Additionally, six new senators were approved by the Senate, with Amber Skattebo, Gavin Jackson and Abrar Ali representing freshmen; Joseph Ohler and Julie Slosarczyk representing the College of Letters & Science; and Jacob Martin representing the Lubar School of Business.

Two other freshmen senator approvals and a fourth court justice appointment were tabled as the candidates were not present. There had previously been no freshmen serving in the Senate this year.