By Farris Willingham, Editor-in-Chief
Student Senate has about $16,600 left in rolling appropriations after approving six bills this semester.
Students filled the Senate and Student Government Association presidencies after an impeachment left the association’s highest seats vacant.
Terrance Craft, mass communications sophomore, and Robin Ladd, political science/philosophy senior, assumed the roles of Senate president and SGA president, respectively.
Robin Ladd, Student Government Association president, assigned Craft to the Senate presidency this year with a special election. She accepted applications for the election from Aug. 24-31, but the role went uncontested.
Craft claimed the position during a Sept. 4 Senate meeting, where SGA’s chief justice swore him in.
The SGA president and vice presidents must be chosen during spring elections, read the association’s constitution.
The impeachment of Emma Velez, former SGA president, left the Senate president’s chair empty, according to Student Publications’ archives.
The Student Court ruled that Ladd, who was elected as Senate president, would assume the presidency, leaving a gap in the vice president’s position, said Ladd. The court then ruled she could host a special election to fill the seat.
Actions following the impeachment trial were logical, but the results are concerning, said Danielle Kutner, political science/philosophy junior.
“I don’t think the impeachment did SGA any favors,” she said. “It made people less active in SGA and uncomfortable with the situation.”
The lack of competition is reflective of students’ unwillingness to participate in SGA and the political climate, Kutner said.
SGA approved a $117,733 budget for the 2012-13 academic year, Ladd said.
Craft will conduct Senate’s business effectively as president, she said.
“I think Terrance is going to do an amazing job,” Ladd said.
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