Student Senate Passes Bylaws, Resolution for Constitution Conference

Editor-in-Chief

   After many meetings and discussions, the Student Senate passed a new set of bylaws in a special session Thursday, Nov. 13. President Pro-Temp Sandy Herring called the special session after the senate ran out of time in its normally scheduled meeting Wednesday, Nov. 12.  

   Zack Tucker, parliamentarian, explained how important the bylaws would be to the campus student government.

   “This is to start a history, something future generations can look back on,” Tucker said. “This doesn’t change a whole lot of how the Student Senate operates, just another reinforcement.”

   The senate also passed a resolution for a constitutional conference. The conference will consist of10 president pro-temp appointed people to draft and change the current Student Government Association Constitution. According to Tucker, the conference can hold hearings of both senators and students. The students asked to appear can either appear in person or can submit a written statement. Herring will appoint a chair for the conference out of the 10 students she selects. The conference will report to the assembly after 14 days.

   When senators asked Tucker to explain the need for the conference, he said to legally change the constitution either the student body elects delegates or the senate can put together a constitutional conference made of students, not just senators. Then the changes will be brought in front of the senate. If the senate votes against the changes, the process will start over. If the senate approves the changes, the entire student body will then vote on the changes.

   The senate spent the rest of the special session working on amending the new bylaws. Angelia Buford, a senior social work major, proposed to amend the bylaws to say student senators must follow the student handbook and if on disciplinary probation they should be immediately removed from office. During her authorship speech, Buford explained senators hold a high position on campus and should set a good example.

“If on disciplinary action, this sets a bad example,” Buford said. “This is important to add to qualifications of senators.”

   Eric Bell, a senior political science major, said disciplinary probation is too vague because it could mean a number of things. He also questioned if a student being on disciplinary probation is confidential.

   “Would this (amendment) cause bias, “ Bell asked. “Would this give someone a tool to use at their discretion to squelch people?”

   Other students questioned the means of the senate being notified of a student on disciplinary probation by the university. Buford said residence life and student affair liaisons could possibly relay this information to the executive board of student government. She also said the senate should only need to know the probation was in place, not the reason for the probation.

   Tucker said while the amendment is a good one, he recommended the senate vote no for now and bring the amendment back up when the senate had a mechanism in place to finding out if the university has given disciplinary probation to a senator.

   Senators also questioned some of the other areas in the bylaws.

   Bell questioned why the bylaws said student senators would be elected since he thought they would be appointed. Tucker explained for now, SGA President Michael Thomas appointed senators because there was no senate. Starting in the spring, students that comprise the different departments will vote for two senators. Senators elected in the fall will take office in the spring and senators elected in the spring will take office in the fall.

   “ This makes the transition of senators smoother,” Tucker said.  “This will keep stability so a whole new group is not coming in at the same time.”

   The senate also accepted nominations for a Review Board. Herring said this is a check and balance system for the Executive Board. The Review Board will hold a meeting at mid-semester and at the end of the semester. Tucker made it clear the senate must approve anything the Review Board does and one branch cannot get more powerful than another.

   The senate will vote by secret ballot at its next meeting for five senators and two alternates to fill positions on the Review Board.

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