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Printer-Friendly ModeAppointments to replace elections
April 23, 2007 —
Student Association recently passed a resolution which will allow it to appoint representatives in the fall, rather than hold schoolwide elections.
The resolution will require SA to appoint five additional representatives. Two positions will be reserved for students not enrolled in classes on-campus at SVSU during the previous winter semester. This includes both incoming freshman and transfer students.
Additionally, one position will be reserved for an international student. The status of a student as international is determined by their citizenship in a country other than the United States.
Finally, the two remaining positions will be reserved for at-large students. An at-large student is defined as any student who does not meet the previous two qualification categories.
The term limit for the appointed representatives will end on April 30, along with the terms of the rest of the representatives.
Students can expect the positions to be posted immediately at the beginning of the fall semester. Any student wanting to apply for appointment will have at least until the fourth week of classes to return their filled out application.
The amendment to its bylaws was brought on by SA's desire to see who they candidates are so they know that who their elect will be the best person for the position.
"It can be difficult at the start of the year," said SA President Andy Suszek. "We don't always know much about who is running for election because anyone can run."
Many in SA believe the change from elections to an appointment process will benefit them in the long run.
"The beauty of the appointment process is that you actually get to see who is running," said SA representative Nick Madaj.
The change will take place beginning in the fall semester.
SA also spoke about the future of the Cardinal Cage and the Student Life area in their House meeting last Monday. They discussed the potential movement of the SA, Program Board and University Residence Association offices into an area in Student Life.
Although nothing is yet set in stone, SA says the reason behind the proposed move is to have more cross-promotion and better communication so that they may better serve the student body of SVSU.
Discussions also continued concerning the bank construction in the Cardinal Cage. It is still proposed that the bank sit in the front third of the room, leaving what is left relatively unchanged.
SA said whatever happens to the area, it is important that the area is allowed to keep its lounge-like feel, and it remains usable for cultural programming in the future.
Other possible changes being looked into involve making the wedge lounges more useful for meeting space and bringing more technology to the area.
Next year's SA will be convening later this week to determine committee chairs, as well as the Speaker of the House for the 2007-2008 school year.
Unlike most SA House meetings, these discussions are closed to the public.