The ASUC Senate confirmed a finance officer at approximately 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night, and began considering official business again at its eighth regular meeting of the semester.

The senate confirmed ASUC President Will Smelko's second nominee, junior Alan Ni, to the position after discussing the nomination for less than an hour Wednesday night. ASUC bylaws state that the senate must confirm a finance officer by its fifth meeting and that it may not consider official business until it does so.

"I think that Mr. Alan Ni is very qualified because he has lot of time to contribute to the position," said CalSERVE Senator Cynthia Nava. "He has had experience applying for spring budgeting and I'm really excited to have him."

Smelko's first nominee, junior Jing Jing Li, failed to receive the 14 votes from the 20-member senate needed for the confirmation. The senate discussed her nomination for more than four hours over the sixth and seventh meetings of the semester.

The judicial council ruled Wednesday that the senate violated the bylaws by not confirming a nominee in time and that it could not conduct official business until the position was filled. The ruling also rendered business the senate conducted at its sixth meeting invalid.

The senate also approved Vinit Sukhija as elections council chair at approximately 9:45 p.m.

Last year's senate lost six weeks' worth of official business after failing to appoint an elections council chair by the eighth regular meeting as mandated by the bylaws.

Tags: ASUC FINANCE OFFICER, ALAN NI, ASUC SENATE