New constitution faces dissent

A continued controversy surrounds the voting process for the newly reformed constitution of the VCU Student Government Association. The injunctions, filed by students Joe Anderson and Anthony Spain on Feb. 2, were lifted after a hearing on Feb. 6.

The injunctions were filed on the basis that the constitution was not given accurate publicity before voting. Students would have had only 72 hours between when all the final changes to the constitution and bylaws were made and voting.

Anderson was disheartened at the fact that the SGA did not take the opportunity to “dispel the air of secrecy.”

Although the injunctions have been lifted and a new voting period is set to take place within the next two weeks, some students and SGA members still have conflicting opinions over the constitution and the voting process.

Several students, including Anderson have made complaints about the constitution itself. CeeJay Louis, political science and English major, said he does not see the sense in the abolishment of positions within the executive branch that the new constitution calls for. Louis said the change would eliminate the system of checks and balances in the organization.

Joshua Ronk, senate chairman and member of the constitutional reform committee said the elimination of those positions would improve communication between the two branches of SGA, while also saving $10,000 from the SGA budget.

Though Louis and Ronk agree lack of communication within the SGA has affected efficiency, Louis said, “Their way of fixing it is to take out the executive branch. They’re basically throwing a bomb on a dandelion.”

Legislative Issues and Civic Action Chair Johnathan Ward said e-mails and group invitations riling support for those against the constitution have circulated the SGA from anonymous sources. Ward said these efforts, like the complaints made by Anderson and Spain, are “counterproductive.”

“They are not keeping at open mind about it,” Ward said. Ward suggests that Anderson’s previous unsuccessful campaign for senate could mean he still “has beef with the SGA.”

Whatever the motive, Louis and Anderson seem more concerned with the lack of publicity. Louis said his main concern has been “the shadiness of it all.”

According to Louis, although the constitution was been available on the SGA Web site for review since December, the final version was not completed until the day before students were set to vote on it.

Louis said the multiple grievances he filed concerning the constitutional voting process have been met with some hostility. He said he was called a “racist” and a “bully” and asked why he is trying to get in the way of the system.

In response, Louis said, “All I really want is for the student body to know what they are voting for. Sometimes you can’t act politely for justice, sometimes you have to make some noise.”

Louis said he plans to run for SGA senate and recruit “new blood that will not bow down to mob mentality.”

Justin Green, director of communications for the SGA, said that the injunction was merited. Greene said publicity has still not reached the desired extent. Since the injunctions were lifted, Green said that students have become more aware of the constitution.

“There has been a certain degree of word or mouth.”

Green said the extent of publicity for the constitution consists of facebook groups and forums and a forum on the SGA website for student comments.

Still, Anderson said he would like to see “some of that actual publicity happen.” Anderson said he would still like to see flyers, a mention in the VCU TelegRAM, and a mass e-mail to the student body. Greene said flyers and related publicity would be a collective effort within the SGA.

“There’s a little bit of overlap when you’re talking about something like this,” Green said.

When discussing a lack of awareness about the constitution within the student body, Greene said “To me that’s a legitimate problem. Just because people vote, doesn’t mean they know what they’re voting about.”

However, Greene said, “I don’t expect students to read that stuff.”

Anderson believes that it is not the job of the SGA to justify lack of publicity on the assumption that most people don’t care.

Gabriel Walker, director of student affairs for the SGA said he agrees that there was not enough publicity for the constitution before voting time. Walker said one of the biggest issues concerning the SGA is a lack of student awareness. Walker plans to run for SGA president for the 2009-2010 school year. He said his platform will address this issue by proposing weekly video updates on the SGA Web site. Walker said he hopes to “bring SGA back to the student population.”

The challenge for SGA is “bridging the gap between the people who are vested in the VCU student body and those that don’t,” Green said.