PSG dismisses senators
Student Court rules to overturn
decision, senators disagree
By Kurt Esposito
Assistant
Campus Editor
As of Wednesday night, the Student Senate no longer
exists. However, a group of former senators are committed to keeping
the senate alive.
The senate was absolved following a ruling by the
Student Court to overrule the decision by the senate to rescind the
referendum, which would have changed the representation of the Student
Senate.
The Office of the Dean of Students then supported
that decision. Pablo Malavenda, associate dean of students, said the
senate had no authority to repeal a referendum which was put into effect
by a student vote.
"There is nothing more powerful than going to the
people in an election and there is nothing more powerful in an election
than a referendum," he said.
Clay Slaughter, PSG senator, said a group of former
senators met with the Dean of Students Thursday morning and were assured
that they have the opportunity to reject any action taken by the student
activities and organizations division of the Office of the Dean of Students.
Malavenda said the Office of the Dean of Students
only approved the Student Court's decision and did not in any way overrule
any decision of the Student Senate.
Slaughter said, "The Student Senate is still up
and running and we will be meeting next Wednesday at 7 p.m."
Following the announcement by student body president
Jim Vaca, the former senators held an unofficial senate meeting, in
which they passed three resolutions.
Slaughter said the PSG constitution states that
no legislative body has the authority to absolve another body.
Malavenda said, "They are not going to be the recognized
student government of this campus and they are not going to get funding."
Vaca said he would not sign any legislation passed
by the senate.
Slaughter said the PSG constitution states the
senate does not need the president's signature to pass legislation if
the president refuses to sign to it. The president could still veto
any legislation.
Vaca said he thinks the senators are in disbelief
and don't want to recognize the fact that they are no longer a part
of PSG.
"They have no power; they don't exist anymore.
The University has recognized the new constitution and the new PSG,"
he said.
Patrick Mondi, student body vice president, said
the former senators should be aware that they can still run for senator
positions when the elections are held in the fall.
Malavenda said he was disappointed that the semester
had to end in such a manner and said it should not take away from what
the senate had accomplished this semester.
"They should be commended for that, but there is
a broader picture here and that is the student government has not been
effective for a long, long time," said Malavenda.
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