Friday, March 31, 2006
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- Professors who pile on the work at :
the last minute •
- Scheduling for next semester
- Uncontested SGA election
Politics is a risky business
We live in a democratic society. In all forms of government
that Americans implement, from Sewage Treatment Plant
Community Associations, we model our small governments
after the United States Government for obvious reasons. It is
unfortunate when the people being governed do not get to
voice their opinions. It's unfortunate, hut perhaps in a college
setting it isn't always destructable.
Monday morning there were rumors that Deepti Soni had
dropped out of the SGA Presidential Election. By Wednesday.
those rumors had been officially confirmed. With the
Soni/Zambanini ticket officially off the ballot, Meredith Straub
and Ken Middlemiss were ready to be voted the next SGA
president and vice president. Straub and Middlemiss would
only need 10 votes to win the "election."
Last week, the current SGA President Alexander Henderson
made remarks regarding his decision for not vetoing the blind
vote from the week before. That was the week wherein the
senate voted to overturn the recommendation that Soni and
Zambanini not be allowed to run due to "lack of experience. -
Henderson said he did not want to see the election come down
to one man's vote, so he refused his power of veto.
However, that is essentially what has happened now because
of Sow's withdrawal. The election came down to 12 students:
Soni. Zambanini, and the 10 required votes for Straub and
Middlemiss. The student body of Behrend has been handed a
president. The question is, will this directly affect next year's
presidency? Will students be able to follow a president they
did not vote for?
No, there
literally isn't.
Jerry Pohl
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By Annie Sevin
editor in chief
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Letter to the Editor
Jerry Pohl needs to stick to comedy,
at least a few people think that he is
funny. His editorial about the irony in
Ken Middlemiss' question about quo
rum is a gleaming display of ignorance
First of all, it is possible to suspend
quorum or any part of the SGA
Constitution. Check Robert's Rules of
Order; it takes a two-thirds majority
vote and must be temporary. The quirk
is, you must have quorum to suspend
quorum. A motion to suspend quorum
has a purpose in several occasions. The
meeting on March 20th would have
been a good occasion. If a meeting is
about to lose quorum and will no longer
be able to conduct business, then it
would be wise to suspend quorum
Likewise if there were a
Those questions bring another to mind: had Soni stayed in
the race and won. would her presidency have been a peaceful
one? One certainly wouldn't think so if they took into account
all of the controversy surrounding this year's campaign.
Rumors were spread, threats were made, and reputations were
dragged through the mud, and for what! An election in a stu
dent organization? Soni and Zambanini's campaign wasn't
even over yet - no one had even voted, and rumors were flying
around Behrend about impeaching Soni if she were to win the
election.
Soni was mulling over the decision of whether or not to stay
at Behrend another year or go to grad school. Zambanini had
just returned from Spain and was still in the process of return
ing to his old life. They decided to run because they felt the
students should have a choice. It was not fair to Soni and
Zambanini that students did everything in their power to stop
them from running in the election. It was not fair to Straub and
Middlemiss that those same students wanted an uncontested
race, therefore allowing them to win by default.
It is unfortunate that students did not have a choice in the
presidential election because that is after all the crux of democ
racy - having choices. As citizens of the U.S., we pride our
selves on being a democratic society. However, most of us
don't even think about the right to vote and why we have that
right until it is taken away.
Although it is regrettable that we were not afforded the right
to choose a president, it is not regrettable that Straub and
Middle►niss will succeed President Henderson and Vice
President Soni. They both have very good leadership skills and
creative qualities that will serve them, and the student body,
well next year. Good luck Meredith and Ken.
Have a "Thumbs Up" or "Thumbs Down" ?
4 h. P
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Irony versus Ignorance
t of vot-
The Behrend Beacon I 3
campaign
flyer
ing members who refuse to come to a
meeting to ensure that business cannot
take place, as was attempted two years
ago at CCSG, it would also be wise to
suspend quorum.
If there has been a perceived breach
of the Constitution, it should be
addressed and discussed. Ken's ques
tion was in that spirit. I would expect
anyone who is dedicated to the SGA to
try and get an issue such as this
resolved. Those knowledgeable of the
situation, SGA Constitution, the people
involved, and Robert's Rules know that
Ken's actions show a great deal of con
gruency with his character and should
be expected.
Thank you,
Scott Soltis 'O5
Actual