DeKALB – The Student Government Association (SGA) passed a bill to prevent removed senators from being reappointed in a following session and announced several events at their meeting on March 7.

BILL TO PREVENT REMOVED SENATORS FROM BEING APPOINTED FOR THE NEXT SESSION

The SGA passed a bill to prevent removed senators from applying to the senate for future sessions unless they file an appeal with the supreme court. An appeal cannot reinstate a senator to the current session but would allow them to reapply for future sessions. 

The move comes after Senator Bino Rosales was removed from the senate during the student government’s Feb. 14 meeting. 

The bill passed with a vote count of 12-1-0 and will take effect immediately. 

RESOLUTION TO ELECT A NEW MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS

Treasurer Ethan Pesavento was elected as the fifth member of the Board of Elections after Vice President James Innis stepped down from his position as a Board of Elections member.

The resolution passed with a vote count of 11-2-0.

CHIEF JUSTICE REQUESTED CLERK POSITION

Chief Justice Max Jarmula spoke before SGA’s senate to explain complications that caused the supreme court to only meet four times this semester, and to request an unpaid position that would deal with communications and scheduling. 

“Some examples that the supreme court justices had to deal with were mandatory class events, last minute job scheduling and recently, more personal matters,” Jarmula said. 

The chief justice also described issues with email communications, a meeting room being made unavailable last minute and respondents and petitioners having to reschedule meetings.

“The process has been slow as many emails are not being sent properly to me from respondents as well as petitioners,” Jarmula said regarding the communication issues.

Jarmula requested the approval of a clerk or secretary position to assist the supreme court with scheduling and communications.

“Their only responsibilities would be meeting scheduling as well as booking rooms and other things like that as our current supreme court justices have a lot of responsibilities on their plate and I believe that this will definitely streamline the process of everything and make this a lot more cohesive,” Jarmula said. 

Senator Trevor Ivy raised concerns over what this new position would do to mitigate the last minute changes that Jarmula described. 

“This person, their sole responsibility, would be to manage you all’s schedule so you all can participate as seniors as part of other organizations. That doesn’t really seem fair to that person in that role,” Ivy said. 

Senate Speaker Manny Corpuz said he can assist the supreme court if needed. 

“If it’s an issue of scheduling, I can help you with that, but the thing is, I’ve had no form of communication,” said Corpuz. “There has been no attempt to communicate with me via email or via coming to my office hours to ask about how you can run the supreme court.”

DEI COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED QUINCEAÑARA EVENT AND CAMPUS-WIDE SOCCER TOURNAMENT

Parliamentarian and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Chairperson Eddie Guerrero announced that students are invited to attend Maria Martinez’s Quinceañera, organized by SGA DEI Director Isabella Montoya and the Latin Student Alliance, at 6 p.m. Friday at the Barsema Alumni and Visitor Center. Seating for the event is first-come, first-served.

Guerrero also announced that the DEI committee is seeking students who would be interested in joining a campus-wide soccer tournament that they will be organizing this semester.

Participating students will represent their college in a single-elimination tournament to compete for the title of Campus Soccer Champion and there will be individual awards given to the top goal scorer, best goalkeeper and more.

Students interested in participating should reach out to Guerrero at z1973197@students.niu.edu.