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At a Student Government Meeting Nov. 13, members discussed the payroll
situation of former SGA president Felicia Woodson and filled the vacant
positions of Vice President for Diversity, SACAB representative and
Vice President for Communications.
Chairman of the College Republicans George Culpepper brought to light
the fact that Woodson is still receiving pay from the SGA, even though
she was voted out of office Oct. 24.
Woodson plans on filing an appeal through the student court system.
Culpepper began by asking if Woodson had attended any meetings, or
been in the SGA office at all last week.
“It’s inappropriate,” said Student Trustee Harris
Singer. “This is very inappropriate for open forum.”
Singer was not alone in feeling that such an argument was inappropriate.
Many members remained silent and would not comment during the discussion.
Some simply stated how uncomfortable they were discussing it in such
a manner.
Culpepper said if Woodson was not fulfilling any duties of the office,
she should not be collecting pay.
One of Culpepper’s main concerns is that the SGA do not have
a deadline outlined in their policies stating when an appeal must
be submitted, therefore Woodson could appeal in four months and still
get paid.
“Felicia Woodson can sit on this until the March election and
collect $500,” Culpepper said.
The SGA’s new President, Linda Cordova, said that the SGA had
been advised to continue paying her until the appeal went through
the Student Court system.
She later stated that Lee Combs, Metro’s attorney, was giving
SGA the advice.
Combs was not reached for comment.
“If the appeal is denied, it will stop right there,”
Cordova said.
Culpepper acknowledged that the SGA has no control over the situation
and he said he was not trying to lay blame, just looking for clarity.
“That money is coming from student fees,” said Assistant
Director of Student Activities Gretta Mincer.
Culpepper said he is concerned about how students would feel if they
knew their fees were going to pay someone who is no longer in office
and no longer fulfilling the duties of that office.
The vacant positions on the SGA were filled by Marziya Kaka as Vice
President for Diversity, Jessica Steinke as SACAB representative,
and Rustin Tonn, former Attorney General for the SGA, took the vice
president for communications position.
“I just want SGA to be there and provide a forum for students,”
Kaka said.
Kaka, a sophomore, went on to explain that she does not believe the
term diversity refers only to multiculturalism, but also to everyone
on campus, including those with disabilities.
Kaka said those with disabilities should not be considered as disabled,
but rather as gifted.
When asked if she would support the gay, bisexual, lesbian, and transgender
community, Kaka said she saw no reason not to.
“For me, they are human beings like everyone else,” Kaka
said.
Kaka was one of four candidates interviewed for Vice President for
Diversity at the meeting. Senior Joan Kelly, senior Jason Justice,
and sophomore LaShanta Smith were also interviewed. Smith was a member
of SGA last year and held the position of Vice president for Student
Services.
Steinke was the only candidate for SACAB representative interviewed
at the meeting.
“I want to make sure it (SGA) is benefiting the students,”
Steinke said.
These decisions came after a meeting that will put a new constitution
in the works for the SGA. The student body passed the current constitution
in the late nineties.
“The Constitution the Student Government is currently working
under has many glaring loopholes and conflicts of interests built
onto it as it lacks clearly defined powers, responsibilities, and
mechanisms of accountability,” Singer said.
Some of the changes being discussed are adding three branches to
the Student government. The branches would be closer to the system
used by the United States government. There would be an Executive
branch, a legislative senate and a judicial branch.
The draft will then be reviewed by the SGA executive committee and
voted on by the student body. Suggested changes will be made to the
Constitution subcommittee and the student body will participate in
a referendum election by the end of February.
“It is our desire to develop a Constitution which will serve
the students well for decades to come,” Singer said.
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