Bill Tabled; Three Student Senators Resign
By Student Media Copy Editor Jacqueline Schafer
At the March 5 Student Government meeting, a resolution was put forth to start the two-week advertising period, required by the school constitution, before a hearing is held on a proposed constitutional amendment. The bill to amend the constitution was sent to the Government and Academic Affairs Committee — the resolution for the hearing, however, was tabled indefinitely.
According to Student Senate Speaker Jeremy Miller, “If we table something usually you have set a date when to bring it up or after something else has been addressed... To table indefinitely means it’s tabled and can't be removed or brought back to the agenda.”
The hearing would have allowed students to express their views on the bill to amend the constitution that former senators Jared Lewis and Michael Horneffer put forward to restructure the Student Government. Lewis and Horneffer believe that the current format of Student Government does not adequately represent the student population. “We want to create a system where every single type of faction on the campus has a voice, has a right, has a vote,” said Lewis. They said the current form has become a self-interested entity and needs change.
The restructuring was their attempt to give students more control over how their student fees are used. At the meeting, Lewis said that it is important to start making these changes quickly because of approaching elections, claiming it would be better if “the next senators aren’t elected on the current system,” because he ses it as ineffective. The reasoning mirrors why they wanted to pass the resolution to immediately start the period of advertisement.
Other senators expressed concern at the meeting, “By passing this [resolution] . . . we would be taking away from our committee process which would be the right of the committee to vote down a bill . . .,” said Student Senator Krista Muise, “This would be almost requiring that the Government and Academic Affairs Committee pass that bill out of committee.” Muise did say, however, that if the bill is voted out of the Government and Academic Affairs Committee that would be the appropriate time to start the two week advertisement and hold the hearing.
While saying they believe good intentions were behind this idea, senators also have expressed concerns about the bill itself. "It wasn't really explained which rules the new organization would follow. The student senate has a constitution, but this new branch had no such rule set," said Senator Keegan Luczak.
“Based on the vote on the resolution, the amendment has little chance of being passed,” said Student Body President Zach Golden. To express their protest Lewis, Horneffer and Senator Andrew Gillies resigned from their positions as senators in attempt to bring the senate below quorum. Lewis, Horneffer and Gillies are now planning a campaign for the next elections, which begin March 30, where they will put forward their ideas for Student Government.
For information from Student Government, go to sg.gmu.edu.
More information from Lewis and Horneffer will be available at their website, thenewgmu.com, when campaigning begins March 30.
Student Media Group: