Five members of Students’ Association resigned at Thursday’s meeting after Congress failed to pass a resolution denouncing the actions of SA executive officers Charles Gaines and Luke Cochran during the recent SA elections.

Colleen Ashley, author of the bill and junior political science major from American Samoa, said she and four others resigned because this meeting was the last one of the semester.

“Ordinarily, I would not condone giving up my voice in SA, but being aware that the resolution wouldn’t pass, this was an effort to underline our disapproval,” Ashley said.

David Vanderpool, junior biblical text major from Brentwood, Tenn., did not vote for the resolution and disapproved of the resignations.

“I thought resigning was an attempt to make a point,” Vanderpool said. “I did feel, however, it was in poor taste and was handled immaturely.”

Ashley said she brought the resolution before Congress because of the outcry she heard from students and other SA members.

She said Cochran and Gaines used their influence as executive officers to influence others, specifically by posting fliers endorsing a candidate in residence halls and changing their Facebook profile pictures.

Amanda Paramore, resident assistant in Gardner Hall and junior political science major from Sugar Land, said the posters took away students’ voices in their home.

“I really felt strongly against the fliers in general and finding out they were brought to Gardner by an SA officer,” Paramore said. “And then, they were not taken down even though they falsified who was supporting Sam.”

The resolution failed by a vote of 9-5-4: Nine voted yes, five voted no and four abstained. A simple majority is all it takes to pass a resolution.

The resolution expressed disapproval of Gaines and Cochran for “their lack of neutrality, for the violation of both the 2010 Students’ Association Executive Officer Elections Rules and the foundation of Christian morals and values by which Abilene Christian University and the Students’ Association must abide.”

Many Congress members opposed the resolution because it specifically named Gaines and Cochran, instead of simply “executive officers.”

Those in favor of the resolution wanted to set a precedent for future SA leaders, while those against it did not think the officers did anything wrong because the bylaws don’t expressly state that SA executive officers cannot campaign.

Brandon King, junior senator and international relations major from Denver City, voted for the resolution only after amendments were made to take out the names. He said he thought the resolution needed to be worded carefully.

“I think it needed to be against an action, not attacking people,” King said.

Cochran declined to comment; Gaines left for another engagement 15 minutes into the meeting before the resolution was introduced.