By Courtney Walsh, Assistant News Editor
The Student Government Association (SGA) held its last meeting before the Thanksgiving break on Nov. 16. The meeting began with the passing of two new clubs: the Theater Technology Club and the American Red Cross club.
SGA’s next order of business was introduced by President James Wells.
“According to the constitution and policy series, we need to have the people Alessandra and I selected for the election committee,” said Wells to the senate.
This meant that the senate would have to vote approval of all the individuals selected by Wells and Chairwoman Shaaya for the committee. The election committee oversees the election process along with the clubs advisor Chris Body. Four SGA senators were voted into the committee: Yaneke Douglas, Ralph Dweck, Jordan Baer and Alessandra Shaaya, as well one Hofstra student not affiliated with the SGA, Peter Mannino.
However, the meeting focused on several amendments to the SGA constitution by Elizabeth Weeden. Weeden suggested the creation of a sabbatical, so that senators studying abroad or interning far away would have their senate seat reserved for them until they returned.
Debate was instantaneous; many senators felt that reserving a spot in the senate would be “unfair” to delegates who are still waiting for a seat to open up.
“I think it just takes away from SGA, it’s taking away seats and the opportunity for delegate to be a senator. In the past senators have stepped down to delegate when they studied abroad or interned, that’s how it’s always been, and it’s always worked out fine,” said one senator.
Despite the majority of the senate’s disapproval, some senators agreed with Weeden.
“Most of us are in SGA because we’re really motivated people, I understand that this would change decorum, but I think that a senator shouldn’t have to go through the whole process again but because they want to do something new,” said senator Edward Sitt.
There was motion to amend limiting the number of senators allowed to be on sabbatical at the same time to three. Both the new and original amendment failed and the constitution remained untouched.
For the sake of time, the senate moved to table Weeden’s other amendments until the senate met again after Thanksgiving break.
(Courtney Walsh/The Chronicle)
