2008 Woodie Awards
Separation of Powers
Should Students Be Allowed to Hold Multiple Positions?
Ethan Moore
Issue date: 4/14/06 Section: News
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On Tuesday, Apr. 4, discussion at the Student Senate meeting escalated into a heated debate over a proposed amendment stating that Senators should be able to hold any number of appointed positions on Senate committees such as SoCo, Media Committee, or Multi-Cultural Development Committee (MDC).
As it stands, the Hendrix College Student Senate bylaws state, "No voting member of the Hendrix College Student Senate may serve in an appointed position on a standing committee of the Hendrix College Student Senate." This recently passed amendment was intended to prevent a conflict of interests in students who may serve on any given committees overseen by Senate. Therefore, situations in which, for example, the yearbook editor is able to set her own deadlines because she also serves as the Media Committee Chair, can be avoided. However, junior Amy Robinson, Senior Class Senator, proposed an amendment that would change the wording to, "No voting member of the Senate can hold more than one appointed position on any standing committee of the Hendrix College Student Senate." This would allow a Senator to hold positions appointed through the Committee on Committees, such as Media Chair or SoCo Director of Logistics and Sound.
Senior John Gray, Media Committee Chair, made the point that it was because of what happened with the Troubadour last year that Senate amended the constitution to its current state, in order to safeguard against future incidents.
Gray said, "I felt that Amy was not taking that into account, and was doing this merely to get her position in the executive branch of SoCo. She's done a great job in SoCo in past years, but I don't think that she's looking at the big issue."
Robinson refused to comment on the situation.
Sophomore Jacob Williams, Senate Treasurer, is in favor of the idea of allowing Senators to be appointed to serve on other committees. However, he thinks that Robinson's amendment should specify that Senators cannot hold two paid positions. He also acknowledges the fact that the situation of a Senator also holding a Senate-appointed position on a committee would create a conflict of interests; however, he does not believe that this would be too much of a problem.
As it stands, the Hendrix College Student Senate bylaws state, "No voting member of the Hendrix College Student Senate may serve in an appointed position on a standing committee of the Hendrix College Student Senate." This recently passed amendment was intended to prevent a conflict of interests in students who may serve on any given committees overseen by Senate. Therefore, situations in which, for example, the yearbook editor is able to set her own deadlines because she also serves as the Media Committee Chair, can be avoided. However, junior Amy Robinson, Senior Class Senator, proposed an amendment that would change the wording to, "No voting member of the Senate can hold more than one appointed position on any standing committee of the Hendrix College Student Senate." This would allow a Senator to hold positions appointed through the Committee on Committees, such as Media Chair or SoCo Director of Logistics and Sound.
Senior John Gray, Media Committee Chair, made the point that it was because of what happened with the Troubadour last year that Senate amended the constitution to its current state, in order to safeguard against future incidents.
Gray said, "I felt that Amy was not taking that into account, and was doing this merely to get her position in the executive branch of SoCo. She's done a great job in SoCo in past years, but I don't think that she's looking at the big issue."
Robinson refused to comment on the situation.
Sophomore Jacob Williams, Senate Treasurer, is in favor of the idea of allowing Senators to be appointed to serve on other committees. However, he thinks that Robinson's amendment should specify that Senators cannot hold two paid positions. He also acknowledges the fact that the situation of a Senator also holding a Senate-appointed position on a committee would create a conflict of interests; however, he does not believe that this would be too much of a problem.