A resolution was made to streamline the nomination and election process of Student Senators was drafted and approved by the senate on Sun. Nov. 16.
The hotly contested resolution came on the heels of a controversial senate election, where a senator was elected to a position that had been vacated just a week prior.
The senate has always recognized election protocol as a tradition, such as advertising an open position for two weeks before electing a replacement, and electing senators after a question and answer session during the senate meetings.
Kyle Malinger, an off-campus representative and senate rookie introduced the resolution after noticing the non-conformity in senate procedures, “The senate never has had a procedure,” Malinger said.
Malinger pointed to the recent elections of himself and Jake Fox, a senior representative, who were elected with little discussion among the senate, while another senator, Stephanie Caron, was elected after extensive discussion.
The procedure Malinger outlined in his resolution specified questions that will be asked to all senatorial candidates.
His resolution states, “The Student Senate currently elects senators on a nomination basis with no set standards or prior notification to the senate of the potential senator; provided that the potential senators have twenty-five appropriate signatures from constituents of whom the wish to represent between the fall and spring elections.”
Prior to the acceptance of the resolution the only outlined basis of nomination was the gathering of twenty-five signatures from constituents.
Maligner’s resolution called for five basic questions to be asked of all senators, “The potential senator submits an application, along with a signature sheet of twenty-five signatures and five questions to be answered by the respective constituents to the Student Body President a week before the applicant wishes to be appointed,” the resolution states.
The resolution was passed, but the question section was debated in the senate. Questions included, “What is your favorite quote/saying?” and, “What is the one trait you want people to recognize you for?” The resolution was passed with the understanding that it would remain a working document over the next week, meaning Senators could add suggestions to make the document more agreeable,”The senate voted on the resolution as a whole,” Malinger said.
Senate passed the actual resolution, but the question section received scrutiny from some senators, including Student Body Vice President Andrew Lewensohn. Lewensohn showed apprehension to the question portion of the document, but could not offer a comment to the newspaper due to the fact that the official document has not yet be accepted by the Senate.
A final draft is expected to be passed by the Senate during their Sun. Nov. 23 meeting. After the questions are finalized, the Student Senate will have an official protocol for electing new members, possibly leading to the end