USG passed a resolution that would allow any sworn senator to join summer government. In the past, summer government has been limited to six senators who could vote on issues in the absence of their peers.

The new resolution will also limit the power of these summer representatives. Now, the senators will not vote on issues. While they will still be able to draft legislation to respond to issues that would affect students, these summer representatives will not be the only votes on the legislation.

Instead, they will decide if an issue is important enough to contact all permanent senators at home so they can all participate in emergency votes via the phone and e-mail.

Summer government does not hold meetings, but could help solve problems that would otherwise be given little student attention, said the resolution sponsor and Internal Affairs Committee chair, Matt Clark.

Two more of Clark’s resolutions also passed. These were “house cleaning procedures,” Clark said.

“Internal affairs went through every line of the bylaws and every line of the constitution, and noted everything that needed changed,” Clark said.

This year, fixing problems and updating the bylaws have been the focus for the Internal Affairs Committee, Clark said.

One major change that the committee suggested has been to eliminate summer stipends for the vice president and speaker of the senate. USG agreed, and passed a resolution in favor of the committee’s suggestion earlier this year.

The president of USG still receives a full-tuition stipend for the academic year and a six credit hour stipend over the summer.

While president Alex Wright was absent from the USG meeting to attend the city council meeting, USG voted to cancel next week’s meeting.

However, Wright will ask the senate to reconsider canceling the next USG meeting because city lawmakers planned to attend, Wright said.

Ward 2 representative Mike Zickar, city prosecutor Matthew Ruger and major John Quinn plan to speak about creating a civil code to accompany the city’s criminal code. A civil code would allow minor violations — like messy porches or un-mowed lawns — to warrant a small fine or ticket instead of the current criminal penalties.

During open forum, student trustee Matt Clever reported that the Board of Trustees voted to make some changes to the student handbook. Clever highlighted a change that would rename the free-speech area in the Union oval the “speak-out area.” The change would eliminate paperwork for students who wish to use the space, Clever said.