In a meeting that drew debate over the future of election procedure, the Board of Elections (BoE) passed its constitution in front of the Student Council (StuCo) this Tuesday, after the addition of a stipulation fixing a time limit for changes to election policy.
The main event of Tuesday night's Student Council meeting was a debate about revisions to the BoE Constitution.? Most of the issues, which had previously been discussed with the Student Council, caused no conflict.?
Such issues included stating that experience is not needed in order to run for office and that the BoE can add people to the board in an emergency situation.? The issue that ignited debate was over the setting of election procedures and release of election results.? While the BoE was originally contending that this was a bylaw issue, many Student Council members felt that it was the Council's responsibility to regulate in this area, and that an amendment needed to be added to the BoE Constitution stating how and when processes would be set.
Several council members felt that the BoE has been too secretive in the past about election rules and results, and they were afraid that a lack of regulation could allow for a situation to arise where rules could be changed at the last minutep; this would thus affect the results of an election.? Some members recommended that there be a fixed format for elections, while others felt that since the BoE constitution is on the internet, there was public access and this was not even an issue.
After more debate, the Council voted that it would accept the Constitution with an added amendment saying that, while rules can change between elections, election processes must be set and made public two weeks prior to the beginning of the election process, starting with the first information session for perspective candidates, and rules cannot change within that time period.
After a few changes to the amendment by the BoE representatives at the meeting, it was decided that an article would be added saying that election procedures will be made public on the day of the first information session and will be the procedures for that election.?
Of course, this rule is exempt in extenuating circumstances.? The BOE's argument was that, in a year such as this one where Hurricane Isabel necessitated that the dates of several information sessions be changed, there must be some leeway.? With the article added, the Council passed the new Constitution.
?Another issue discussed at the meeting was the approval of the Women's Ultimate Frisbee Team's Constitution.? The Constitution was approved, meaning that the Women's team will now be recognized as an SAC group, and as an entity separate from the Men's team.? This recognition will allow the team to receive funding.
An amendment to the SAC constitution was passed as well, stating that the SAC can have power to revoke a group's status as an SAC group, and their Constitution.?
The SAC felt that it needed this authority, which it has had none of in the past, in order to prevent overlap or unwanted competition between groups.? Three cases for review and possible revocation were stated.?
The first is if a group is not functioning under their stated guidelines; the second is if a group's purpose overlaps with another, creating conflict and taking away membership from another group; and the third is if a group is no longer following their SAC guidelines.? If a group's Constitution and SAC status are revoked, they are no longer recognized as an official SAC group and thus will not receive SAC funding, but the group can still function on campus.
?Other issues addressed at the meeting included potential future activities by each class and the passing of a bylaw amendment.
