Senate rejects McClelland return
Allison Gagliardi
Issue date: 11/4/09 Section: News
Jade McClelland went before the Senate to keep her position in SG during last Tuesday's meeting. McClelland was recently removed from her position as an SG senator after being "pointed out."
Senators can receive points for missing or being late to meetings or for not following the proper dress code when they attend, for example. After getting five points, the Senate President can remove a senator.
McClelland received the bulk of her points - four out of the five - for missing committee meetings. It is mandatory for Senators to serve on a committee and attend the meetings, according to Senate President Caroline Decaire.
McClelland, who was Senate President last year, argued that it was not mandatory to sit on a committee because it was not outlined in the Senate Rules and Procedure. Decaire believed it was implied by other rules.
McClelland also believed her removal was unconstitutional because she was not given the chance to speak before Senate. Senate Executive members disagreed.
These disagreements led McClelland to ask the Judicial Branch to intercede.
The Justices heard the case on Oct. 30. They ruled that although the point system itself was valid, but the removal process was not.
"… the court determined that the process for the removal of senators in accordance with the policies in the points system is not constitutional," Christopher Harmon, chief justice, wrote in an e-mail to Senate members.
Although she was given the chance to speak, McClelland was not satsfied.
"I do not agree with the court rulings, (but) I respect them," she said.
After the ruling, McClelland's name was added to Tuesday's Senate agenda.
During the discussion in the Senate meeting, Kim Diaz, Senate pro-tempore, stood by the decision to remove McClelland.
"We don't want Tuesday senators, we want 24/7 senators. Allowing Ms. McClelland a seat in Senate is invalidating and undermining our points system," she said.
In the end, Senate agreed with Diaz and chose remove McClelland from her position. McClelland left immediately after the results were read.
McClelland has served on the Senate for three years. She said it's more than just an extracurricular activity for her.
"This is something I care intimately about, I feel strongly about serving the student body," she said.
Senators can receive points for missing or being late to meetings or for not following the proper dress code when they attend, for example. After getting five points, the Senate President can remove a senator.
McClelland received the bulk of her points - four out of the five - for missing committee meetings. It is mandatory for Senators to serve on a committee and attend the meetings, according to Senate President Caroline Decaire.
McClelland, who was Senate President last year, argued that it was not mandatory to sit on a committee because it was not outlined in the Senate Rules and Procedure. Decaire believed it was implied by other rules.
McClelland also believed her removal was unconstitutional because she was not given the chance to speak before Senate. Senate Executive members disagreed.
These disagreements led McClelland to ask the Judicial Branch to intercede.
The Justices heard the case on Oct. 30. They ruled that although the point system itself was valid, but the removal process was not.
"… the court determined that the process for the removal of senators in accordance with the policies in the points system is not constitutional," Christopher Harmon, chief justice, wrote in an e-mail to Senate members.
Although she was given the chance to speak, McClelland was not satsfied.
"I do not agree with the court rulings, (but) I respect them," she said.
After the ruling, McClelland's name was added to Tuesday's Senate agenda.
During the discussion in the Senate meeting, Kim Diaz, Senate pro-tempore, stood by the decision to remove McClelland.
"We don't want Tuesday senators, we want 24/7 senators. Allowing Ms. McClelland a seat in Senate is invalidating and undermining our points system," she said.
In the end, Senate agreed with Diaz and chose remove McClelland from her position. McClelland left immediately after the results were read.
McClelland has served on the Senate for three years. She said it's more than just an extracurricular activity for her.
"This is something I care intimately about, I feel strongly about serving the student body," she said.
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