ASOSU president warns student government in ‘constitutional crisis’; board asks fee issue be brought to March meeting

Audrey Schlatter, ASOSU president, told the Oregon State Board of Trustees on Jan. 17 that the university’s student government is “at a tipping point,” describing a breakdown in checks and balances after the ASOSU Senate voted this week to dissolve the judicial branch and asserted broader authority to amend fee legislation.

The board chair said the university’s fee‑setting process must follow state statute and board policy and asked ASOSU to bring any fee increase to the trustees in March when the board considers fiscal‑year 2026 tuition and fees. “The fee setting process established by statute and board policy was not followed,” Board Chair Hernandez said. The chair asked ASOSU to present the requested fee increase in March so it can be considered alongside the board’s established work plan.

Why this matters: ASOSU’s incidental fee process governs roughly $38 million in student‑allocated funds and plays a central role in programs and services funded by student fees. Changes to the process, or to which student bodies have authority over fee recommendations, could affect budgets, student programs and shared‑governance relationships across campus.

During her report, Schlatter said ASOSU has experienced extensive internal harassment and threats that have impeded governance work: “Members within every single branch of the ASOSU have come to me in tears because of the ongoing harassment,” she said. Schlatter told trustees she and other student leaders have felt endangered when protestors allegedly used knowledge of leaders’ locations to organize confrontations near student government offices.

Sophia Nowers, introduced in the meeting as ASOSU’s president of the senate and the student fee committee chair, confirmed the student fee committee completed its work and produced a recommendation, but described a rapid procedural change in the senate that she and others say altered long‑standing mediation and review steps in the fee process. Nowers said recent rule changes enabled senators to introduce and amend fee legislation without prior mediation and that some senators later reported not understanding motions they had voted on.

Trustees and university leaders responded by urging students to use administrative processes for safety and due process and by promising institutional follow‑up. Board members emphasized there are university policies that govern bullying, threats and harassment, and that the president and senior staff are responsible for operational responses to those violations.

Board reactions included expressions of sympathy and offers to help. Trustee Bonanno and other trustees said the board stands with student leaders who face harassment and that the university’s student conduct and human resources processes should be used to address threats.

What was not decided: No formal board action (vote) on ASOSU governance or fees occurred at the Jan. 17 meeting. The board did not adopt or amend university policy during the session. The chair’s request that ASOSU present any proposed mandatory fee increase in March is a direction to the student government rather than a binding board adoption.

Next steps and context: Trustees repeatedly urged ASOSU and university administration to use established shared‑governance procedures and institutional complaint processes. ASOSU leaders said they will participate in after‑action reviews and that the student fee committee plans to examine bylaws and procedures in the spring. The board indicated it will expect any proposed fee change to be presented through the established timetable for FY‑26 tuition and fees.

Ending: Trustees said they will monitor the situation and expect coordination among ASOSU, student affairs and the president’s office. Schlatter concluded her remarks by asking the board and university senior leadership to “help us do our job as a shared governance partner” and to examine recognition requirements and ASOSU compliance with them.