SGA temporarily loses affiliation, nullifies elections
Lili Johnson
Issue date: 3/25/08 Section: Campus News
Last week's SGA Senate meeting was spent discussing issues SGA has recently encountered, including a temporary loss of the group's affiliation and the nullification of the recent SGA elections.
The SGA recently lost its affiliation for nearly two weeks when President John Bryant failed to turn in affiliation-related paperwork. Bryant stated that he is not quite sure how the error occurred.
"I believe that I turned it in," said Bryant regarding the necessary forms to apply for re-affiliation. "I don't know why it wasn't [turned in]."
Bryant did not inform members of the SGA or the organizations funded by the SGA of the predicament until the SGA meeting on March 18. The organizations lost funding for those two weeks, and the lack of money is how some came to realize they were no longer affiliated with the university.
"The reason that it was not brought up and talked about with the entire student body before," explained Bryant, "was because I thought it could get handled quickly."
Bryant sent a letter explaining the predicament and the SGA regained its affiliation, but is now on probation until Spring 2009. If the SGA has another violation during the probation, a council set up by Student Affairs will become the student government. This is the second time the SGA has lost affiliation, as far as Bryant can remember, he said.
The UNCG SGA was also placed on probation in February of 2007, after failing to inform the university 12 hours before holding an event on campus. That probation carried
Contested election
In addition to affiliation complications, the SGA was also dealing with the trouble of this year's elections. Elections were held the first week of March, but the results have been nullified.
As stated in a letter drafted by Makeia Taylor, Elections and Publicity Committee chair, the elections will be re-done. The decision was made after members of the Elections and Publicity Committee felt the integrity of the elections was compromised. According to Taylor, two candidates were left off the ballot during a process of rearranging some candidates in order to give them a better chance of being elected. In addition, emails explaining the voting process were not sent out to all UNCG students due to technological difficulties, and some candidates allegedly failed to remove campaigning materials after campaigning had ended.
The SGA recently lost its affiliation for nearly two weeks when President John Bryant failed to turn in affiliation-related paperwork. Bryant stated that he is not quite sure how the error occurred.
"I believe that I turned it in," said Bryant regarding the necessary forms to apply for re-affiliation. "I don't know why it wasn't [turned in]."
Bryant did not inform members of the SGA or the organizations funded by the SGA of the predicament until the SGA meeting on March 18. The organizations lost funding for those two weeks, and the lack of money is how some came to realize they were no longer affiliated with the university.
"The reason that it was not brought up and talked about with the entire student body before," explained Bryant, "was because I thought it could get handled quickly."
Bryant sent a letter explaining the predicament and the SGA regained its affiliation, but is now on probation until Spring 2009. If the SGA has another violation during the probation, a council set up by Student Affairs will become the student government. This is the second time the SGA has lost affiliation, as far as Bryant can remember, he said.
The UNCG SGA was also placed on probation in February of 2007, after failing to inform the university 12 hours before holding an event on campus. That probation carried
Contested election
In addition to affiliation complications, the SGA was also dealing with the trouble of this year's elections. Elections were held the first week of March, but the results have been nullified.
As stated in a letter drafted by Makeia Taylor, Elections and Publicity Committee chair, the elections will be re-done. The decision was made after members of the Elections and Publicity Committee felt the integrity of the elections was compromised. According to Taylor, two candidates were left off the ballot during a process of rearranging some candidates in order to give them a better chance of being elected. In addition, emails explaining the voting process were not sent out to all UNCG students due to technological difficulties, and some candidates allegedly failed to remove campaigning materials after campaigning had ended.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 14
Lauren
posted 3/26/08 @ 12:23 AM EST
I never realized SGA had this much power on campus. Sounds like they should get their act together.
Luke
posted 3/26/08 @ 5:27 PM EST
Why don't you cover more stories about the positive things that SGA is doing???? All of the leadership is on the way out anyways, so aren't you beating a dead horse? Your ridiculous paper has been riddled these last few weeks with negativity towards this group, and as a student who is not even involved in SGA, IT IS GETTING OLD. (Continued…)
Ashley
posted 3/26/08 @ 6:24 PM EST
Before everyone goes bashing the carolinian, consider that things as simple as re doing an election or losing affiliation do affect the students.
The fact is that there were some organizations affected by the affiliation let down, the finance committee chairperson said so in their meeting two weeks ago, and more than that the fact that they cannot even get simple paperwork turned in on time makes me wonder about their ability to do the other simple tasks they are assigned to. (Continued…)
Mike Rusher
Mike Rusher
posted 3/27/08 @ 12:00 AM EST
Ashley,
This is Mike Rusher, I AM the Finance Committee Chairman of UNCG SGA. Your Comment:
"The fact is that there were some organizations affected by the affiliation let down, the finance committee chairperson said so in their meeting two weeks ago, and more than that the fact that". (Continued…)
Ashley
posted 3/27/08 @ 12:38 AM EST
I meant treasurer... my apologies.
I would read the minutes, but as of today they had not been updated in almost a month.
Regards
Mike Rusher
posted 3/27/08 @ 2:00 PM EST
Ashley I can't seem to remember just what Katreina said about "some organizations affected by the affiliation let down, and how SHE "said so in their meeting two weeks ago. (Continued…)
stan k.
posted 3/27/08 @ 7:02 PM EST
so the paper is critiquing an organization for their mistakes that let down the student population???
that seems two faced considering the horrible slant that the writers present on their sga stories, as well as the correction, and apology that is needed from the editor in cheif. (Continued…)
Stan K
posted 3/28/08 @ 11:26 AM EST
well lukey, the apology that you will issue to sga next paper (if another paper is in your budget). you see there is a big difference between a letter of apology and a letter of appeal. (Continued…)
Luke McIntyre
posted 3/28/08 @ 12:47 PM EST
First, you're correct that the letter John Bryant sent was not referred to as a letter of apology. I've just checked the tape of the meeting myself, and a correction will run in the next issue. (Continued…)
Mark H.
posted 3/29/08 @ 9:23 PM EST
hey guys,
The simple fact that Luke has to post so much in here just to clear up his articles (and one's that aren't his for some reason) speaks volumes. (Continued…)
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