Newspaper Page Text
THE CLUSTER, MARCH «, HV9-PAGE J
Constitution of the Student Government
Association of Mercer University at Macon
PREAMBLE
la the belief that a a proper lor students id
atablBh a system of fovcrancxM for the regulv
as the students of
e schook of Mercer Unviera-
ty to Macon. Georgia, do adopt this cucssutu-
tioo to protect the intrinsic powers and rights
of the student body, to insure freedom of
sssociaooo. freedom of thought, freedom of
freedoms which arc
l with the existence of
Mercer University aa an academic community
TITLE I. legislative Branch
Article I. Name and Purpose
Section I.—The legislative body of the student
body thall be the Senate of the Student Govern
ment Association of Mercer University of
Macon. Georgia
Section 2.—The legislative body of the student
body shall have the following expressed
purposes:
a. ) to express the concerns and interests of
the snider
b. ) to 6
ministration, faculty, and students.
c. ) to facilnaie communication octween the
various student organizations of the Mercer
of by-laws hi establish sanding committees
which shall continue from year to year.
Scctwo 2 - Commutes of the Senate shall have
the power to investigate mailers placed before
*. call persons to appear before « io testify, to
formulate resolutions and motions for recom
mendation to the Senate, to cany out such
business as H may be authorized io do by the
Senate as a whole.
Sect too 3. — Commerces making an investiga
tion may be vote initiate contempt proceedings
in Judicial Council against any individual for
failure to cooperate in said investigation
Article V. Standards of Student Conduct
Section I.—The Senate shall have the power to
recommend standards for the regulation of stu
d.) to encourage undent involvement in all
facets of campus life.
Article 0 Membership
Section I.—The members of the Senate shall be
elected from the student body of Mercer AU
members of the Senate must be enrolled us one
of the three undergraduate schools and main
tain a 2.S cumulative GPA.
Scctm 2. -There shall be fisc Senators elected
from and to represent the Senior class
Scam 3.—There shall be five Senators elected
from and to represent the Junior class.
Scorn 4.-There shall be five Senators elected
from and to represent the Sophomore class.
Section 3.—There shall be five Senators dec-
trad from and to represent the Freshman class
Scorn 6 —There shall be five Senators clear*)
at Urge from the student body.
ArtKle HI Removal from Office
Section I —The Senate shall have ihc power lo
regulate the behavior of as members and may
t by a two-thirds vote for
ace. or nonfeasance in
office.
Scorn 2.—The Senate shall have the power to
impeach any member of the executive branch
for malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance
in office and to remove such individual by a
two-thuds vote of members assembled
Scorn 3.-Any member of the Senate or
member of the executive branch who is sub
jected to removal or impeachment proceedings
shah be afforded one week notice and shall have
the opportunity to speak in his own behalf and
to crosa-cxamnc any witnesses brought against
bun
Section 4 -Three absences excused or unex-
cused per quartet from regularly called meetings
of the senate by a Senator shall be interpreted
as non-feasance m office and such charge shall
be brought by the Secretary of the Student
Government Association
Section 3.—The Chief Justice of the Judicial
Council shall act as chair of the Senate for the
impeachment bearing of any member of the ex
ecubve branch tat shall exercise no vote The
Clerk of the Jufejal Council shall chair in the
absence of die Oj^f Justice
Article IV Commute*
Section l .-The Senate shall have the power to
form itieif uno comnuaces and by the adoption
Section 2.—No member of the Mercer com
munity shall be subject lo prosecution for
misconduct under ex post facto legislation
Section 3 —The Senate shall have no power by
its legislation to regulate die conduct of any in
dividual other than as expressly allowed by this
Article VI Disbursement of Funds
Section I. —The administration of the Student
Activities Fund, allocated by the university,
shall be by die Student-Faculty Board of
Appropriations
Section 2. - Members of the Board shall be six
faculty members appointed by the President of
die University and six students elected by the
Scnalc
Section 3 — h shall be die duties and respem
sibtlities of the Board:
a. ) to hear petmons and recommendations for
Nadgct allocations from all student organizations
and publications receiving Student Activities
Fuads and to approve or reject such petitions
and recommendations.
b. ) To receive and approve end of the ifianer
reports from each such organization concern
ing funds spent, funds corarruncd. and propus
ed plans for expenditure of the remaining funds
and to submit such reports to the Senate
Section 4.-The Board shall have the powers
a 3.—The Senate shall have the power to
disburse such funds as it is invested with m a
manner consistent wxh its purposes.
Article VU Elections
Section I. The Senate shall have the power to
set and hold ctooxm for membership, rrfcrco-
dum on ameihJmenu. and such other tannest
as H may be necessary to bring before the sm-
dcM body as a whole
Sccwm2 The Senate shall hold its yearly
general election wishing the first f«ir weeks of
Spring Quarter to elect Senators and members
of the executive branch who are subject to
elect no
Section 3 Senate elections shall be determined
by a plurality of votes cast
Section 4. Presidential and Vice-PresakniiaJ
candidates shall qualify, campaign, and be
elected as s ticket
Section 3 Presidential and Vice Presidential
elections shall be determined by a majority of
»o*s cast If not ticket achieves a majority decs-
skio. a run-off election shall be held between
the tup two vote getters in the general election
within three class days
Section 6. By a petition signal by 50 per cent
id a Senator s constituency, the class electorate
may recall any elected Senator for a vote of «av
fldence Thirty per cent of the Senator's con
stmency mu*i vote m (he recall, and iwtvdurds
of those voting must vote no confidence « order
to remove a Senator from office —
Section 7. By a petition signed by 30 per cent
of the undergraduate student body, the elec
torate nay recall any elected President, Vice-
President or Scamor-at-targe for a vote of con
fidence. Thirty per cent of the srudmi body must
vote in the recall and two-thirds of those voting
must vote no confidence in order to remove any
of those officials from office.
Section 8. Any Senator. Scmior-at-large. Presi
dent or Vice-President brought up for a recall
vote shall have no less than one week between
the umc he or she is given the completed peti
non and die ume of the recall vote.
Section 9. All undergraduate students of the
Macon campus who are enrolled as full-time
students shall be eligible lo vote ui any Undent
election
Sectwo 10. No student shall be eligible to cast
TITLE U. EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Article 1 Purpose
Section I —The executive branch of the Student
Government Association shall possess the
following purposes:
a. ) to serve as the chair of the Scnalc for the
exercise of official business.
b. ) to serve as die representatives of the stu
dent body before the administration, faculty,
and the world at large.
Article II. President
Section I -The head of (he executive branch
shall be the President of the Student Govern
ment Association
SectMm 2.—The President shall be an ex officio
(by virtue of office) member of the Senate and
all of its committees and shall reserve the right
to vote except in die case of a tie
Section 3. —The President shall be the chairpcr
son of the Senate
Section 4 —The President shall have the power
io appoint voting and non-voting members of
Senate standing commmccs subject to a (wo-
durds confirmation vote by die Senate
Section 5. —The President shall have the power
A
SGA Speaks
On a
Constitution
By LYNN CREECH
SGA Vice President
The SGA his recently passed iu new Constitution and by-laws.
Although the by-laws do not require student approval—it is now
up to the students to adopt our proposed Constitution on Thurs
day. May 9. an election table will be set up for you to get out and
vote. However, before you do vote, there are scs eral changes you
should be aware of.
First of all. this new Constitition is actually organized Sean
Black, Donna Itzoc and Charlie Smith have restructured the for
mal so that it is much easier to follow.
- Secondly, the new Constitution addresses the issue of Senate ac
countability to the students. It would allow a petition of approx
imately 250 signatures from a Senator’s constituency to call for
a vote of confidence in that Senator (30% or constituency for Presi
dent. Vice President and Senator at Large). With V> of those ex
pressing “no confidence" in the Senator—he/she will be remov
ed from office.
Thirdly, the minimum GPA requirement has been increased to
a 2.5 cumulative. This decision is in accordance with increasing
University standards. As many of you are aware. within two years
the minimum Greek average will be a 2.5 as well.
Along with these three changes, there are sevjral more that will
be outlined for you as you go to vote. Your SGA encourages you
to get out and adopt this document that we. the Senate, have
supported.
Vote YES for the Constitution on Thursday.
F«r*0 cu»cit>
Section 6 -The President shall have the power
to appoint the Secretary of the Senate subject
to a majority vole by the Senate. The President
shall have the power to appoint a Par lumen
urian with no vole of the Senate requires!
Section 7 —The President shall have the power
to appoint a replacement for the Vice-President
should (here occur a vacancy in (bat office <* ith
the two-thirds approval of the Senate
Article III Vice President
Section ! - The Vice President of the Student
Government Association shall be an cx-oflicio
member of the Senate
Section 2.—The Vice President shall serve as
(he chairperson of the Senate m die absence of
the President
Section 3 -The Vice-President shall fulfill such
duties ax are assigned to turn or her by the
President
Section 4 The Vice- President shall he the sue
lessor m office of the President should the
President he removed from office for any
reason
Annie IV Secretary
Section l.-The Secretary of the Sludem
Government Association shall be appointed by
the President during die firs! two week* of the
new ierm subject lu a confirmation majority v«e
of the Scnalc
Section 2 — The Secretary shall be a non-suing
member of die Senate
Section 3 -The Secretary shall be responsible
for maintaining comprehensive minute* of all
official business transpiring us regular or special
meetings of the Senate of the Student Govern
meet Association.
Section 4 -The Secretary shall be responsible
for maintain mg comprehensive minute* of (he
meetings of the Executive Council
Sectwo 5 -The Secretary shall be responsible
for maintaining records of meeting attendance
Sectwo 6 -The Secretary shall be responsible
for confirming ihc eligibility of all member* of
dm Senate to serve each quarter based upon at
tendatsce and academic eligibility
Sectwo 7.—No elected Senator shall serve as
Secretary us other than a temporary capacity
without first resigning hu or her elected office
Artwlc V Parliamentarian
Section I -The Parliamentarian of the Student
Government Association shall be appointed by
ihc President during die first two weeks of the
new term
Section 2.-The Parliamentarian shall be
responsible for advising the chairperson of die
Senate ax ki die cuctccT operation of partiamcn
ury procedure
Section 3 - The Parliamentarian shall he a non-
voting member of die Senate
Section 4 -The Parliamcnuru shall be
responsible for aft of the finances of ihe Stu
dent Government Association
TITLE III RATIFICATION AND
AMENDMENT
ArtKle I Ratification
Section I - Thu Constitution shall become the
official Constitution of the Student Government
Association when it is ratified by ihe
undergraduate students of Mercer University m
Macon. Georgia i
Section 2 - Reification of dits Constitution
shall be by referendum held foe that purpose
The approval of twesdurda of dwac voting shall
be necessary to ratify dua Cunaututwn
Scawn 3.-Ad previous Constitutions and by
laws not cxprcaaJy continued by dus Conatmi
lion are hereby declared null and void upon
ratification of dus Constitution
Article U Amendment
Section I Amendments u> the Constitution
shall be proposed by a two thirds vote of the
Senate or peuiwn or five hundred students
Section 2. - Proposed ArotndmctRs to dus Con
stitution shall be publicized for a period of lwo
weeks prior to the date of the referendum
Section 3 The final approval of a proposed
amendment shall be accomplished by a referen
dum in which die approval of rwo- thirds of those
voting shall be necessary for adoption
Artwle III By Laws
Section I - The power u> propose *ta appros c
.by-laws shall rest in ihc Senate id (he Student
ijoscrnmcni Assoc lalion
Section 2 —The Senate shall pass no by law
wtiKh is as contradKtwn of any pins ismn >>1 this
Constitution
ScOrmi 3 The JudKial Council is vested with
ihe power of judicial review, and may strike
down any by law which u/n contradiction of
this Constitution or of Its Anrrslm^hl* should
such he made
Section 4 It shall be tabled one week and then
require a two third*
vote of the Senate
Great books
Eight of the Nine Great Books
classes offered, arc required to
fulfill the General Education re
quirement for the University, li is
necessary to take ail of the firsi four
Great Books classes, and then any
four of the last five.
In practical terms, the Great
Books core is completed with only
40 credit hours of work while the
Distributional Core demands 65
hours. This allows Great Books
students to begin their major early
and to have more time to complete
minors and double majors.
Another practical draw to the
program is the no-lecture (in class),
no-test, no-exam format. Fashion
ed after seminars such as those at
St. John's College. Great Books
seminars are all discussion
Homework consists of 3 to 5
medium length papers over the
course of the quarter and significant
daily reading assignments each
night. Some professors will also re
quire informal daily writing and/or
a longer paper in lieu of the exam.
Most classes are also required to at
tend a few outside lectures during
the quarter. Because there is no lec
ture in the Great Books classroom,
these outside lectures often help
give depth and historical
background to class discussions.
Dr. Michael Cass. Professor of
English, tells his Great Books
students that “the aim of liberal arts
education is the freedom of the
mind." This is one of the aims of
ihc Great Books program as well.
The Great Books faculty is as
diverse as Mercer with professors
from the departments of English,
Christianity, Philosophy. Modern
Foreign Language. Sociology.
Human Development. Biology.
History. Freshman Seminar Pro
gram. Mathematics, and one pro
fessor from the Walter F. George
School of Law.
’ ‘ It is a unique approach to lear
ning in that it stimulates indepen
dent thinking and allows one to
question established concepts."
says Arepaily of Great Books.
Another Great Books student.
Sophomore Mary Murray, says. “1
Continued from page 1
feel privileged to be able to be in
volved in this kind of adventure. 1
run from my organic chemistry
class lo sit in a circle sharing
thoughts about classics that have
been studied for thousands of
years But 1 know that I am getting
a perspective that students in tradi
tional college classrooms arc not
exposed to."
As of press time, there are still
openings in the Great Books 301
classes, sections 3 and 4. for Spnng
Quarter.
