Recent talk and events concerning the Student Government Association (SGA) cabinet has sparked debate, ill feelings and confused senators across the board.
    Last Tuesday a legislative cabinet member Amy E. Greer was given an unfavorable recommendation by the rules committee, sparking a role call vote on the senate floor that resulted in her ousting.
    According to the ASU-SGA Senate By-Laws section 3, subsection 6, number 3, “The Chairperson of the Rules Committee shall report to the Student Senate as to their investigation and give recommendations to the Senate as to whether or not that person should be accepted.”
    The rules committee brought a legitimate case against the former cabinet member including lack of legislation and general SGA experience.
    Article 5, section 4, subsection D, number 1 of the ASU-SGA Constitution clearly states the job of the student senate in this situation: “Ratify (approve) by a … two-thirds majority vote of those members present – all appointments by the president or vice president of the ASU-SGA.”
    Greer’s appointment was not passed by a senate two-thirds majority vote.
    Vice President Ezell P. Williams has two choices in this situation. She could put Greer back on new business, placing her back in the rules hot seat to be voted on again or Williams could do nothing and an opposing senator could call for a re-vote tonight.
    How much uproar and unfocused chatter is the administration willing to take before it moves on?
    Generally, a new appointment would be made to fill Greer’s position but this year’s administration chose to fight the spirit of the senate and keep the position filled by Greer. This has not only created great debate in the organization but has torn a rift in the senate.
    The hot-swapping of cabinet members that has taken place since late summer has led to a near alienation of the senate from the administration. Many senators have taken these events personally and have allowed these petty events overshadow student issues.
    The senate has done their job and now the administration and senate must move forward together, whether they personally agree with the group decision or not.
    President Ryan M. Eller and Williams did not receive a mandate by the student body in May. Therefore, they can not expect the student body to support them on every issue or decision, including their appointed cabinet members.
    All players in this issue must realign and regroup as a body to actually get something done this year. Do not be distracted by the task of appointing an able body to a cabinet position. Find someone on who everyone can agree and continue with the year.
    Remember what the student senate was enacted to do.
    Listen to your constituents and do not focus all your energies on SGA’s internal problems. Solve these issues and keep the dirty politics at home.