By Brendan O’Reilly

Last week, Sean Hutchinson was denied reinstatement to the Student Government Association senate after compiling two unexcused absences.

On Tuesday, he was admitted back into the SGA.

In recent SGA history, senators whose membership was in jeopardy because they missed meetings did not show up to plead their case, and were removed from the senate without a vote.

Hutchinson attended, but the SGA voted against his reinstatement and he lost his SGA membership.

He said when he was removed from the SGA some of the senators were too rigid. “I’m a student before a senator,” Hutchinson said, adding that he wants to focus on all aspects of college life, like academics and work. Hutchinson added that he still respects everyone in senate.

He said one of his absences, was because he had an event with the NAACP that conflicted with the senate meeting time, and he failed to inform anyone in SGA.

Hutchinson wanted to rejoin the senate, but had to start from scratch. Those who wish to join the senate before a school wide election is held must collect signatures from students and completed other requirements, like attending a committee meeting. People in the process are called “delegates,” and must be confirmed by a vote of the senate.

Hutchinson “redelegated,” and was admitted back into the senate with a vote of 22 in favor, two against, and ten abstentions.

The same meeting, Lamar Cheston, another senator, came up for reinstatement. He showed up to argue why he should be permitted to remain a member. The senate decided to retain Cheston by a vote of 28 in favor, four against and three abstentions.

Jacqueline Hlavenka and Amanda Falzon contributed reporting to this story.