PSG chief justice faces
impeachment
By Kurt Esposito
Assistant
Campus Editor
The senators of Purdue Student Government will
discuss the possible impeachment of the chief justice of the student
court, Heather Higgins, tonight at their senate meeting.
Clay Slaughter, a PSG senator, said the charges
stem from the fact that Higgins, who was also the chair of the Internal
Review Committee, did not step down from her position of chief justice
when the student court ruled on the constitutionality of the changes
proposed by the committee. On March 23 and 28 the court ruled in favor
of the referendum.
Maarten Rothman, a PSG senator, said, "She is a
party to the referendum; there is a conflict of interest."
Higgins is also charged with exceeding the boundaries
mandated for the Internal Review Committee and conspiring to sidestep
the student senate's deliberation on the proposals by the committee
by supporting a referendum.
Higgins said she was not informed of the charges
against her.
"I'm not stressing too much about it until something
serious happens," she said.
After an impeachment committee presents its findings,
the senators will vote on whether to hold a hearing. If the senators
vote to hold the hearing, a trial would be set for immediately after
the senate meeting. The senators need a two-thirds vote for impeachment.
Rothman said he has also asked student body president
pro tempore Jessica Cavallo to step down from her position.
He said Cavallo inaccurately represented the senate
when she wrote a letter to the editor in the Exponent voicing her support
for the referendum.
"She's of course entitled to that opinion, but
I don't think expressing that opinion fits well with the role of representing
the senate," he said.
If Cavallo does not step down it would take two-thirds
senate vote to remove her.
Cavallo said, "If they think I'm not doing my duty
then I understand that they need somebody who will do a better job."
Rothman said if Cavallo were to be removed from
her seat, she would still hold a seat as a senator.
The meeting will be at 7 tonight in Stewart Center
214 ABC.
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