SGA Closes Meeting for Executive Session

Editor-in-Chief

  The Student Government Association closed its meeting Thursday, Nov. 6 for an executive session.

   SGA President Michael Thomas  announced the meeting would be for executive officers only before  at the start of the meeting, citing personnel issues as the reason.

   "We (SGA officers) had to take care of some personal problems," Thomas said. "It was just more of a personnel issue that needed to be addressed."

   After about five minutes, the Student Senators were asked to come into the meeting. Thomas said "no action was taken" during the executive session and no students stayed until after the session, so SGA conducted no business. He said SGA wanted to open the meeting up after the session, but could not due to students leaving.

   The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act states: when a public body is meeting in executive session to consider disciplining an employee, all discussion must be related to the legal purpose for which the session was called. Such discussion may properly delve into all circumstances surrounding the incident that gave rise to the question of discipline in the first place without contravening the FOIA. Once a decision has been made in executive session that discipline or other action is needed, all further acts of the public body should be public. Commercial Printing Company et al. v. Rush, 261 Ark. 468, 549 S.W.2d790 (1977).

   FOIA further says: The purpose of the FOIA is to protect the public's right to information, not to specify what action shall be taken in an executive session on a personnel matter. The FOIA requires that a resolution or motion actually considered or decided in executive session must be publicly ratified by a public vote if it is to be legal. Yandall v. Havana Board of Education, 266 Ark. 434, 585 S. W.2d 927 (1979). For a copy of the FOIA handbook, click here.

   Thomas said he understood the law and "if any discipline took place, the students would be able to vote on it."

   The next Student Activities Board will take place Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 12:45 p.m. in the University Center House Room. The Student Senate will meet again Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 12:30 in the U.C. Caucus Room. For more information on the SGA, SAB or Student Senate, contact Mindy Holcomb, director of Student Programs and Activities, at holcomb@uamont.edu.

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