Student senate confirmed three elections commissioners and passed legislation concerning executive cabinet positions, which was initially vetoed by Student Body President Luke Rankin, on Jan. 29.
The original bill limited the amount of cabinet positions the student body president is allowed to appoint. A later agreement was reached, and the bill that was passed allows the student body president to appoint three discretionary secretaries, separate from the already existing secretary positions.
“This is a bill, and I’ve been told that it has to pass,” Patrick Greene, chairman of the judiciary committee, said.
Karinna Rao, Rankin’s deputy chief of staff, stood in for Rankin at the meeting, as he was out of town on the provost search committee.
Rao responded to comments made at the senate meeting last week, in which a member of the senate said Rankin was in violation of the Student Government codes, an impeachable offense.
The secretary of health and wellness and the secretary of community relations both resigned at the end of last semester. The Student Government codes say if a cabinet member is removed by the student body president, the president must make another nomination within 14 days. However, since neither of the secretaries were removed but instead resigned, Rankin was not in violation of the codes, Rao said on Rankin’s behalf.
The attorney general, Paul Schwarzentraub, agreed with Rankin in a statement read by Rao. He said, “There is no time requirement in the event of a resignation. Although this may be an implied consideration, it is not written and therefore there is no time requirement when filling positions vacated by resignation.”
The senate also confirmed Madelyn McEllen, Becca Ostien and Enicci Gist to the elections commission. This commission handles the Student Government elections, including election violations and the verification of election results.