Scott Murray is a student worker.

“I would not define or characterize Scott’s position with Student Government as a ‘liaison’ or ‘paid liaison’ position,” said Ceci Brinker, adviser to Student Government. “I would define Scott’s hiring status as simply a student hired by Student Government at this time.”

But a member of the Student Senate wants the process to be redone.

Student senate member Eric Hiltner said he will meet with Student Senate Speaker Megan Ogulnick today and ask her to restart the process to make Murray a paid member of the organization.

“I will approach Megan on Monday and ask her to rewrite the bill, if that’s even possible at this point,” Hiltner said. “I’ll sit there and type the thing up with her. She has the final say on what goes in the agenda, so we could work to an agreement.”

Even though Brinker said Murray is not necessarily a member of Student Government but is a student worker hired on a temporary basis, Hiltner wants to make Murray a liaison.

Hiltner said Murray produces high-quality work and deserves to be compensated for his skill-based work, but the process must coincide with organizational protocols.

“We’d have to not hire him as the marketing director because that position doesn’t exist and was never created,” Hiltner said. “But I don’t know how we can rewrite an approve bill or make it nullified.”

Hiltner referred to Article two, section 11 of the senate bylaws.

“Liaison Positions: The Speaker has the power to create liaison positions with the approval of the Senate,” the bylaws read.

The only other two ex-officio positions listed in that section are the director of public relations and the director of information technology.

“If (the marketing director position) was created, then its responsibilities would have to be clearly stated in the bylaws,” Hiltner said. “It sounds to me like Scott Murray is doing the job of the director of public relations.”

“Director of Public Relations: Shall be a member of the Student Committee on Student Relations,” the bylaws read. “The Director of Public Relations shall be responsible for working with all committees on graphic designs and publicity projects.”

Brinker said past attempts to find students to work the position for free have not been successful.

“Contrary to previous Student Government views and concerns expressed by (its) leaders on this issue, previous attempts to ‘recruit’ or ‘appoint’ a volunteer student as Public Relations Director within Student Government have been futile through the years,” Brinker said. “The end result has been inconsistent, non-existent or low-quality Student Government marketing materials.”

Hiltner said he would be content with making Murray a paid liaison.

“I have no problem with the hiring of Scott Murray, but I just want it done right,”

Hiltner said. “If Scott said he thought he was going to get paid from the get-go, then how come Megan Ogulnick waited until there’s six weeks until school’s over before she decides to pay him?”

The bylaws do not provide specific protocol for hiring student workers, but Ogulnick did not intentionally violate the bylaws, Brinker said.

“I can agree with it not being intentional because of the typical ‘yes men’ members passing the bill along without looking into it, but it is a clear violation (of the bylaws) because the position doesn’t exist,” Hiltner said.

Other senators declined comment on Murray’s situation; however, Hiltner said many of the senate members are reservde because “it’s a real gray and muddy situation.”

“I want to be specific about this. I’m not going after Megan or Scott or Ceci,” Hiltner said. “I just want things done right, and if I don’t do something correctly, I would want someone to come up to me and tell me to fix it.”

Ogulnick, Hiltner and Brinker all agree that graphic work is needed to aid the organization’s abilities to conduct events.

“I applauded and advised Megan to ‘hire’ an Eastern student with professional skills and expertise to handle the Student Government marketing on a consistent basis,” Brinker said. “However, I should have given more thought and discussion to how to propose, proceed and pay someone to fill the position.”

Rick Kambic can be reached at 581-7942 or at rwkambic@eiu.edu.