Student Association senators will decide whether to remove SA President Huda Scheidelman from office at Sunday’s senate meeting.

SA Vice President Steve Coloia said the impeachment issue will be the focus of the meeting, adding, “I don’t think it’s going to happen.”

SA Senate Speaker John Fallon said the issue is “definitely of prime concern.” The senate will meet at 6 p.m. in the Holmes Student Center’s Heritage Room.

“I’m curious to see what their comments are on my performance,” Scheidelman said. “I’m looking forward to answering their questions.”

An impeachment petition was given to Scheidelman on Feb. 2 by senators Galvin Kennedy and James Mertes. But, SA bylaws state the senate only can discuss and vote on the issue 10 days after the petition is received.

Kennedy said the issue will come before the senate during new business with either a motion for discussion or an actual vote.

A two-thirds vote of the entire 45-seat senate is needed to impeach Scheidelman.

Many SA members are concerned whether discussion of Scheidelman’s performance will be open to the public.

Coloia said there are people who want it to be closed and others who feel the issue should be public. However, “it would be legal (under the Illinois Open Meetings Act) to go into closed session,” he said.

Scheidelman said she thinks the senators will go into closed session because they usually do when senators speak in depth about other SA members.

Mertes said discussion should be open because “everyone in the entire student body has a right to hear both sides of the argument.”

Kennedy said he wants discussion to be as open as possible, but is urging a secret ballot. “If everyone sees the way their friends are voting, they’ll vote that way,” he said.

The vote should be non-personal, but there is a senate coalition that tends to vote the way their friends do, Kennedy said.

Coloia said there are “benefits either way,” with open or secret votes. If the vote is secret, people will vote the way they really feel, Coloia said.

But others might hide behind a secret ballot, which is not fair to their constituents, he said.

Scheidelman said she thinks the vote should be open so constituents can see how the senators are representing them. “I’ve got nothing to hide,” she said.

Fallon said he anticipates better-than-average attendance because senators have motivation to attend discussion and vote.