Associated Student Government Speaker of the Senate Tyris Jones is temporarily stepping down from his position until the end of the quarter. The Weinberg senior is taking time off from Northwestern but plans to return in January. Wilson Funkhouser, the secretary-parliamentarian, will replace Jones as speaker for the next few months.
“I think (the ASG members) will be fine,” Jones said. “I’m around for Wilson, and I talk to him almost every day if he needs help. I think he is more than capable of fulfilling the role.”
Last night’s senate meeting was Funkhouser’s first time serving as speaker.
“Bear with me,” the Weinberg junior said at the beginning of the meeting. “I’m not used to this.”
ASG president Claire Lew said it is in the ASG code for the parliamentarian to fill in for the speaker in the case of his or her absence and said that she does not foresee the transition of speaker and parliamentarian to pose any obstacles to ASG’s functioning.
“I think Wilson did a phenomenal job,” the SESP senior said. “We really appreciate him stepping up.”
Because Funkhouser will be unable to serve as parliamentarian for the time being, ASG elected Weinberg junior Francis Brooke last night to serve as parliamentarian until Jones’ return.
“It’ll be very interesting, and I’ll learn a lot I’m sure from holding this position until the end of the quarter,” Funkhouser said. “At the same time I’m looking forward to Tyris coming back because I miss him on (the Executive Board), and I do enjoy being parliamentarian as well.”
