The Student Government Association (SGA) removed nine senators Jan. 27 after the president deemed their appointments unconstitutional.
Calvin Stafford, SGA secretary, appointed the senators to fill vacancies left from the fall semester.
The appointments were revoked because Stafford did not have the authority to appoint them in the first place, according the SGA Pres. Brooke Dugas.
Stafford notified the nine senators of Dugas’ decision by email saying: “Brooke will be personally selecting the new members of SGA in her own time, and you will be notified if you are one of the lucky people she has selected to be part of SGA.”
“I did what I was told to do,” said Stafford. “I followed appropriate procedure.”
Stafford would not comment on who told him to appoint the senators, but the SGA governing documents make no mention of any instance when the secretary may appoint senate members.
The constitution says senate vacancies will only be filled on the regular voting dates unless quorum is lost. A quorum is the number of senators required to conduct business, and it had not been lost in this case.
The bylaws mention senate appointments only once, giving only the president power to select at large associate senators, who have the ability to debate but not vote. Dugas said, “The bylaws are very
clear. They can’t serve. It’s very regretful, but at the end of the day, we have to follow the constitution. It’s my responsibility to make sure we do that.”
Nathan Hall, the SGA advisor, confirmed Dugas’ take on the rules was correct.
Stafford’s email said the nine senators would be offered other opportunities to serve the student body.