The Students’ Association Congress will vote Wednesday on a resolution to change the SA Constitution to allow candidates for executive president and vice president to run together. If the resolution is passed by congress, the proposed changes will go to a student body vote.

The resolution, written by junior class president Rachel Jones, would change the bylaws which govern how SA operates during elections. The current bylaws list several qualifications for candidates to run for the office of executive president and vice president, positions currently occupied by Danny Burke and Julia Kennedy. Jones’ resolution would allow future candidates to run together, so two students could run as a team for the offices.

Jones said she wanted to change the process after seeing previous SA leadership lack a “coherent vision.” She said the vice president and president should run together so the two students in the top positions for SA will know they can work together before they are elected.

“It has nothing to do with this administration,” Jones said. “They’ve done a wonderful job and have worked really well together.”

According to the bill, allowing candidates to run on the same ticket would allow better communication between the two top positions in SA. The bill claims, “… one ticket voting would give the student body confidence about who exactly they are voting for, and create accountability for two people to uphold instead of one.”

Candidates would still be allowed to run individually if they choose.  The SA Constitution can be read here.

Congress tabled the bill at the last two meetings to make more edits on the constitutional changes before Congress gives official approval.

“We’re not tabling just because we aren’t doing anything,” Jones said. “We’re trying our very hardest to make sure that this is the best possible solution.” 

Jones also said she thinks most representatives will vote for the change. The student body must still give final approval to any constitutional changes. SA typically sends an email the the student body with a link to the voting site.