Spring Break
VP election will not take place
by Alana Abramson
Staff writer
News | 1/27/09
Posted online at 7:38 AM EST on 1/27/09
Student Union representatives have discovered that, according to the Union's constitution, it is illegal to hold a reelection for vice president because the president, secretary and treasurer are still in office, Student Union Executive Senator Andrew Brooks '09 said.
Article IX, Section 8, Clause 6 of the Student Union Constitution states, "There shall be no mid-term election for the positions of President or Vice-President except as provided for in Article III." Article III states, "If all positions of Union Executive Office mentioned in this Constitution shall become vacant, new Executive Elections shall be held. Until that time, the Executive Senator shall serve as interim Union President and shall be responsible for appointing an Elections Commissioner to oversee these elections."
The discovery, which occurred after former Student Union Vice President Adam Hughes '11 unexpectedly resigned Jan. 18 after learning of a learning disability, effectively makes illegal last semester's re-election for vice president in which Hughes was elected after Michael Kerns resigned for personal reasons. "Technically, the last election was unconstitutional, but nothing can be done about it now and Hughes did a great job," Brooks said.
These provisions were discovered by Adam Gartner '07, who contacted Brooks about it last week. Brooks then informed Tia Chatterjee '09, the secretary of the Student Union, who canceled the elections.
Brooks will serve as acting vice president until the inauguration of the new vice president at the end of April. He will maintain his position as executive senator. As executive senator, it is now Brooks' responsibility to chair the senate meetings in the absence of the vice president.
"The Union is fully prepared to move forward with [Brooks] assuming the responsibilities of both the executive senator and the vice presidency," Student Union Director of Communications Jamie Ansorge '09 wrote in an e-mail to the Justice. "In my opinion the Union has not been hindered by the changes," adding that Brooks "is entirely ready to assume his new role and has already done so promptly and with great energy."
Article IX, Section 8, Clause 6 of the Student Union Constitution states, "There shall be no mid-term election for the positions of President or Vice-President except as provided for in Article III." Article III states, "If all positions of Union Executive Office mentioned in this Constitution shall become vacant, new Executive Elections shall be held. Until that time, the Executive Senator shall serve as interim Union President and shall be responsible for appointing an Elections Commissioner to oversee these elections."
The discovery, which occurred after former Student Union Vice President Adam Hughes '11 unexpectedly resigned Jan. 18 after learning of a learning disability, effectively makes illegal last semester's re-election for vice president in which Hughes was elected after Michael Kerns resigned for personal reasons. "Technically, the last election was unconstitutional, but nothing can be done about it now and Hughes did a great job," Brooks said.
These provisions were discovered by Adam Gartner '07, who contacted Brooks about it last week. Brooks then informed Tia Chatterjee '09, the secretary of the Student Union, who canceled the elections.
Brooks will serve as acting vice president until the inauguration of the new vice president at the end of April. He will maintain his position as executive senator. As executive senator, it is now Brooks' responsibility to chair the senate meetings in the absence of the vice president.
"The Union is fully prepared to move forward with [Brooks] assuming the responsibilities of both the executive senator and the vice presidency," Student Union Director of Communications Jamie Ansorge '09 wrote in an e-mail to the Justice. "In my opinion the Union has not been hindered by the changes," adding that Brooks "is entirely ready to assume his new role and has already done so promptly and with great energy."
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