2 BEHREND BEACON October 1, 2010 www.thebehrendbeacon.com SGA left with six vacancies after fall elections CONNOR SATTELY editor-in-chief After two unexpected va cancies and a dismal fall election, Penn State Behrend Student Govern ment Association (SGA) is once again short-handed to begin the year. Almost a quarter of the total seats are empty. The vacancies, which are common after SGA fall elections, are prompting SGA President Stephen Burger to re-evaluate the current election system. After fall elections - in which four students were elected - six vacancies still remain on the senate. Four of those vacancies are freshmen positions, which means that Lacy Smiesko, who was elected last week, is the only fresh man on SGA. Two of the other vacan cies are upperclassmen po sitions. One senator - Aharon Robinson - re signed in this week's meet ing, citing classes and other commitments as his reason for leaving. Another senator, sopho more Ryan Frankowski, was removed from his po sition for not performing duties expected of a sena tor, including office hours and attending meetings, according to Burger. These vacancies, which represent nearly a quarter of SGA's total voting mem bers, will be filled through out the semester. They will be largely taken care of through "in-house elec tions," which involves a Interested in getting involved with SGA? Contact SGA President Stephen Burger at srbsl2s@psu.edu. Meetings are Wednesday at 5:30 in Reed 114. 0./k e f ,e#rir brief speech by a candidate and a vote of present mem bers at any Wednesday meeting of SGA. However, it is the inabil ity to fill the freshmen seats that has Burger taking a second look at the system in place. "I think it's more a failing of the system than of any SGA," he says. "It's a very outgoing, gung-ho fresh One Clinic an! c 4 Rooth Street .10tt t i " 61 . 349 1 man who wants to come to a new place, and within a few weeks pick up an elec tion packet, campaign, and run for a position on gov ernment. "In the past four or five years, there have always been these vacancies." According to the SGA Constitution, available on OrgSync, any vacancies left over after fall elections • merioran 4.4. taietwe itios., SAO" Colkise Don't Delay Get Yours Today! *Awesome .Ipartvnersts located In the ialtbM of 10c41 Itestaurents. Night!lto. SitOp** 4 * * 0 4 ••• li• * New Leasing 20114012 i Sign Your Lease TODAY! Ask how to win Free Boni! 2018 East 28 , th Str 814-824-8000 tWertiiinmengt Closest Apartment Complex to Beaver Stadiuml'M Spadous, furnished, CArposted Wit ComdMiming in 1%1 MI room laundrv. 1111 I table Iffkimv. 1 a 2 bedroom floor pt 200. Kew ed Pinking Spoor* A%ailable 24 'Sour I orsisency fillinlenonce Set% Ste Profel MAmirment must be filled by the first week of November. At this point, though, the SGA is not hindered by the vacancies in any of its nor mal functions. It requires quorum - a certain per centage of voting members - to take any action during meetings. The vacancies do not count towards the total count of members, though. The fall elections, too, elicited very little student involvement. Only 160 total votes were cast, and the highest vote-receivers re ceived only 49% of the total vote. While this is common for fall elections, Burger says it points to flaws in the sys tem that must be corrected. Burger says that one of SGA's top goals for the year is to have contested St IL Oilier it*, Sae Cabo. re, swot Get it MI this Fall! Fantastk Location! *Only 1/2 a block to PSI) Main Campus jgp a Sipecious, Furnished. Carpeted & - or Air Conditioned *On-stte Study Lounge lk Fitness Center +►ai Free Cable TV t o On-Site latuadry Facilities 4 s t Study kauise (with FREE internet) .001. Covered Parkins Available 1111 P On-site Professional Management that Cam On 'The V9/14elf? ews elections. He hopes to have at least two students run for each executive board position and each of the eight senator positions that open in spring. For the last two years, senatorial spring races have been contested, while the President and Vice President positions have not been contested for sev eral years. 84. 234446
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