Campus Round Table on 2013 SGB Election Eve
On this edition of Campus Round Table, News Director Matt Singer is joined by Assistant News Director Zach Herbster, Student Government Board Allocations Committee Chair Alex Majchrzak, Student Government Board Governmental Relations Chair Robert Beecher and Pitt News columnist and Pitt Political Review Editor Rohith Palli the evening before the 2013 Student Government Board Elections.
In addition to the most recent news regarding proposed changes to the Allocations Manuel made by Student Government Board Member Thomas Jabro, the panel focuses on the three referenda on which Pitt students will vote on Election Day:
1) I approve modifications to the Student Government Board’s Constitution regarding formatting and wording. These modifications include added sections for definitions for the purpose of clarification, ease of reading, and accessibility. Additionally, structural changes have been made to all sections of the Constitution (e.g. Preamble).
2) I approve a change to the GPA requirement in the Student Government Board’s Constitution’s Article III: The Elections Process, Section III, which currently reads, “All candidates for the office of President or Board Member shall have a minimum grade point average of 2.50 in order to hold office.” The amended language would read “All candidates for the office of President or Board Member shall have a minimum grade point average of 2.75 in order to hold office.” This would only apply to future candidates; current candidates will be held to the 2.5 standard.
3) I approve a change to the number of votes per eligible voter in the Student Government Board’s Constitution’s Article III: The Elections Process, Section III, which currently reads, “…each eligible voter shall be restricted to one vote for the office of President and five votes for the office of Board Member.” The amended language would read “…each eligible voter shall be restricted to one vote for the office of President and three votes for the office of Board Member.” This would not affect the number of people serving on the board, eight, only the number for which each student may vote.
The panel discusses the importance of each of the referenda, as well as the implications of their passing or failure to pass.
Finally, the conversation moves to this year’s small field of candidates, the unopposed presidential candidate and SGB’s reputation moving forward.
