By Farris Willingham, Editor-in-Chief
Robin Ladd, political science junior, assumed the role of Student Government Association president during an April 17 inauguration.
Ladd was sworn in as vice president, but was required to fill a vacancy in the president’s seat after SGA President Sarah Cook’s one-week term ended.
Cook filled the position April 10 following an impeachment trial against Emma Velez, political science/philosophy junior.
Senate approved an impeachment resolution charging Velez with six violations of SGA’s constitution.
Ladd now has the right to host a special election for the student body to vote in a new vice president, reads the Student Court’s ruling on the SGA president transition.
Court members felt that a complete SGA cabinet includes a vice president, said Zane Anderson, third-year law.
“I think a vice president is essential,” he said. “They run all Senate meetings and oversee the group’s actions.”
The decision came after a conflict with provisions listed in the association’s constitution, said Liz Donnelly, dean of students.
“The document says the vice president must be elected in the spring,” she said. “It also says the president has the right to hold a special election.”
The Student Court ruled April 13 that the right to hold a special election supersedes the requirement for a vice president to be elected in the spring, Donnelly said.
Senators may amend the constitution because of the contradictions, Donnelly said.
“There are lots of things in the constitution that they will be able to clear up and make less ambiguous,” she said. “I imagine that there will be some constitutional amendments.”
