By Paul A. Anthony, Editor in Chief
A constitutional amendment and a by-law amendment were proposed Wednesday night in the first meeting conducted by the new set of executive officers. The meeting was a hybrid, with new XOs and class officers, but with old representatives.
The two proposed pieces of legislation focused on requirements for executive office and the dates for class officer elections.
The constitutional amendment, presented by Sen. Melanie Booker, next year’s sophomore class, would lower the requirements for serving as executive president or vice president to be the same as those for executive treasurer and secretary.
Currently, students must have been a member of SA for two years and completed at least 90 hours of academic work, or about three years, to serve as president or vice president.
The amendment would make all executive officer positions require at least one year in SA and two years of academic work.
“It would better serve the students to have more of a selection of leaders,” said Jonathan Wilkerson, executive president.
The By-Laws amendment, presented by Sen. Jud Howland, next year’s junior class, would allow for class officer elections to be conducted simultaneously with executive officer elections.
Currently, the By-Laws allow for class officer elections after XO elections but before May. The amendment would remove the clause specifying they occur after XO elections.
Members of Congress voiced concerns, however, that conducting elections for 18 positions simultaneously would cause “mass confusion instead of campaigning,” as one member said.
Both amendments will be discussed next week.
Wilkerson also took a portion of the meeting to explain parliamentary procedure, as vice president Layne Rouse presented a mock bill for questioning.
The bill will be “discussed” next week, Wilkerson said.
Wilkerson also encouraged Congress to adjourn before 7 p.m. each Wednesday in deference to members who wish to attend church. The president himself preaches at a nearby Church of Christ.
The comments area departed from previous presidents’ procedure, where debate on bills deemed especially important has lasted for several hours without a motion to table or adjourn.
Most lame-duck academic and residential representatives skipped the meeting.
ABSENT: Matt McBryde, Bible; Aubrey Eyer, Chambers; Sunoj James, COBA; Chris Kennedy, COBA; Lori Gilmore, Don Morris; Joel Weckerly, Don Morris; Angie Dossey, Foster; Sarah Johnson, Gardner; Michelle Wood, Gardner; Jonathan Eaves, McKinzie; Erica Martinez, McDonald; Stephen Thomason, UP
TARDY: Melissa Mitchell, Chambers; Maggie Rogers, Chambers
LEFT EARLY: Andress Boggs, COBA
