January 22,2020 Senate Meeting

By: Alexis Butler

The Student Body senate confirmed sophomore, Corryn Carter, as the interim Attorney General during Wednesday’s meeting held in the John F. Knight Jr. conference room.

Carter will replace the acting Student Body Attorney General, Autumn Pate, during the impeachment trial of Student Body Treasurer Aliyah Muhammad. Carter was previously the Viewpoints editor of The Hornet Tribune but intends to step down as she remains the interim Attorney General.

As the viewpoints editor, she mentioned that she was prepared to take this role and she will serve in full confidence. “My time with The Hornet Tribune as a staff reporter has given the investigative and research skills that I would need in order to carry out the position to the best of my ability. Also, because I was working as an editor for the Hornet Tribune, the opinions of other writers were constantly put across my desk for me to edit before the paper was printed. I feel rather confident that I will be able to do the job.”

Carter also made note that she has a copy of the constitution. When asked if her opinion would be biased when bringing charges against Muhammad, Carter ensured that it is her job that the constitution is followed and that her personal feelings will not interfere with her judgment.

While a Student Body interim Attorney General was confirmed the senate also moved forward by approving constitution revisions, presented by Sen. Brea Williams and Senate Pro-Tempore Trentqual Rhone. Rhone explained the changes made to the constitution for further clarity, “Some of the things that were included in the new Constitution were as follows; merging some of the sections in different parts of the Constitution to fix inconsistencies and add clarity, establishing five senators-at-large as well as two senators from each college making a Senate of twenty-one seats, legislative branch members must serve in two committees instead of one, a quorum is fifty-percent plus one, the GPA requirements were boosted by two points, credit hours for the SGA Secretary and Treasurer were changed from thirty-six to thirty-two, a time limit as far as presenting legislation was noted as five class days after senate approval, and in the finance section the stipends were changed in order to grant only the president and vice-president full room and board and tuition coverage while the SGA Treasurer, Secretary, and the Attorney General will receive only room and board coverage.”

With limited discussion, the senators agreed that the changes presented were appropriate for the constitution.

Student Body President, David Whitlow Jr. announced during the “For the good of the order” that the executive branch will be filing a complaint against the legislative branch. “I will be making a plan to file a complaint against the Legislative Branch because the order of succession is only triggered when someone is removed from office, and no one has been removed from office in the case that has been filed. Therefore, we plan to be going to the court regarding this complaint.”

The senate meeting was adjourned and it was confirmed that the next meeting will be on Feb. 5 in a dormitory hall. “We are bringing the senate meetings to the students,” Student Body Senate President said.