By
Emily Severson and Maya Schechter
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Associated Students senators last night approved changing most of the student section football seats to general admission.
The discussion was led by Sen. Seth Frantzman, who said he was in favor of changing most of the seats to general admission because most students sit wherever they choose in Arizona Stadium, regardless of what their tickets state.
"The way it is supposed to work now, students buy a ticket and they are supposed to sit there," Frantzman said. "However, that is not how it works because people sit wherever they want."
Frantzman said he thought a first-come, first-serve basis would work better for most students.
Most of the senators were in favor of changing the seats to general admission, and keeping one or two sections set aside for reserved seating.
"Either way some people are going to be mad if they don't get it their way," said Sen. Tricia Williams.
All of the candidates for the ASUA elections have begun campaigning across campus - except for one candidate who withdrew her name from the presidential ballot.
Kameha Kidd, a UA physiological science graduate student, decided not to run for ASUA president last week when she realized she would not have enough time for the job.
Although Kidd said her experience with the Graduate Professional Student Council has taught her about student issues, she has other time commitments, such as finishing her PhD and graduating in December.
"(Dropping out) had nothing to do with ASUA - I would have done a really good job but I just don't feel comfortable with the timing," she said.
ASUA President Ben Graff said that although it is common for at least one candidate to withdraw from elections each year, he is glad to know they are not for ASUA-related reasons.
"Kameha is very involved and would have run a great campaign, but I understand she had personal reasons," Graff said.
Kidd was the first graduate student to run for an ASUA position, Graff added.
Graff also said that online mock elections have been going well, and he is still trying to encourage students to try it out so they become familiar with the system.
"We have gotten some constructive criticism about the system and we've already addressed these issues," Graff said.
The mock elections will continue until Saturday. Primary elections will be held online, through ASUA's Web site (www.asua.arizona.edu) on Feb. 27-28.
Sen. Matt Bailey's attempt to eliminate the ASUA treasurer position failed last night when both the Senate and Graff encouraged a thorough discussion take place before any decisions were made.
Bailey said that ASUA has a full-time accountant, and the role of the treasurer was not necessary within the organization.
One of his ideas was to eliminate the position and spread the treasurer duties among other ASUA officials.
"Or the duties should be revised in order to make the treasurer a more utilized office of ASUA," Bailey said.
Graff was frustrated with Bailey because he submitted the idea to the meeting's agenda without discussing it with any other ASUA members.
He told the Senate that it was "absolutely inappropriate" and he would have vetoed any decisions they would have made because an extensive amount of discussion was needed.
"How can you possibly ignore that the current treasurer won't take it personally?" Graff said, directing the question at Bailey. "It's backstabbing and bad politics."
Some of the senators agreed with Graff, and said they were embarrassed with the situation.
Treasurer Adi Knishinsky said he didn't know of Bailey's intentions until one of the senators told him last night.
"I agree with President Graff that the process was inappropriate but I am happy with the responses by the Senate," Knishinsky said after the senators voted to strike the item.
Knishinsky also said that he thought his job was important enough not to be removed from ASUA.
Graff reminded the senators that they were wasting students' time by arguing over internal ASUA topics, and they should focus on issues that students care about, such as parking and athletics.
The ASUA Senate approved $6,585.95 in funding for five student clubs' activities.
The Symphonic Choir received $3,225 for their annual competition in San Antonio.
The National Society for Black Engineers received $1,380 for a conference and hotel accommodations.
The Interfraternity Council, which represents 23 UA fraternities, received $1,160 for a conference in San Francisco.
Freshmen Active in Campus Events and Services received $800.95 for their annual conference for pre-medical undergraduate students, which will be open to students from all three Arizona state universities.
The Ambidextrous Armada Comedy Show, a weekly comedy show in the Memorial Student Union, received $20 to help with advertising for upcoming shows.
