Senate has work to do |
Mike Terry |
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The student senate will be faced with some important decisions regarding the future of student government business when it votes on the proposed amendments to the constitution Friday. The amendments were first brought into discussion at the last senate meeting Oct. 6, with five of 10 voted on and approved. Time constraints forced three senators to leave the meeting, prompting the remaining members to delay discussion until this week. According to Student Body President Phil Gersman, each amendment is of equal importance, but changing the quorum rules during the summer semester was the first that needed to be fixed. The required number of senators present to conduct business was changed from the majority to only four and the senate will meet on an as-need basis instead of the two meetings previously required. "It's not that we want to amend the constitution," Gersman said. "The current documents aren't working. They should help us, not hinder us." One of the proposals still under discussion would regulate how early newly appointed chairpersons serve in office. Under the current article the finance board chair, personnel board chair, public relations board chair and student organization advisory board chair cannot serve office until receiving approval from the senate. The proposed amendment would allow new chairpersons to serve unofficially in their office immediately after the student body president has appointed them. Another proposal is to allow chairpersons to serve without being enrolled during the summer semester but requires them to be enrolled full time during the fall and spring. The current rule allows for part-time enrollment but requires that the chairs take classes during the summer. Under another proposed amendment, the vice president would be given authority to oversee day-to-day operations of student government whenever the president is not available. Absentee rules concerning executive board members and senators could also be changed at the meeting. One proposed change would give the president authority to review and possibly remove executive board members after more than one absence. Currently the executive board is responsible for removing its own members. Also under the amendment, three absences would no longer constitute automatic removal. Another amendment would give the vice president authority to review and remove senators for more than one absence, with two consecutive absences constituting automatic removal. The proposal also specifies conditions that would excuse absences. So far, four of the five amendments passed with unanimous approval, while the fifth came to a 11-1 vote with only Senator Donald Harris voting against it. Among the amendments already approved was the removal of a clause that required the senate to consist of at least one representative from the East St. Louis Center and one from the School of Dental Medicine at the Alton campus. Another change will allow senators to participate and vote at summer meetings without being enrolled in summer classes. Promoting campus life was added to the list of senatorial job duties, alongside such ideas as furthering the interests of the student body and encouraging students to develop leadership qualities. Qualifications to be a candidate as a senator were specified, now allowing for full-time undergraduate students with 12 completed hours or full-time graduate students with six completed hours chance to run for office. Prior to this semester, the last revision to the student constitution was in May 1998. "We need to fix these problems as soon as possible," Gersman said. "It will make things easier for the next senate." Friday's senate meeting will take place at 2 p.m. in the Goshen Lounge of the Morris University Center. | |