By Dylan Smith
Staff Writer ’14
‘What is SGA?’ is the most recurring answer given by students, and even faculty, when asked to express their opinion about the organization. In reality, it seems fair to say that not many people know what exactly SGA is. The Student Government Association themselves admit to this being a problem and state that one of their upcoming goals is to spread awareness and increase visibility. Dean Carla Tharp, SGA’s advisor shares this view. She reiterated the club’s eagerness for more coverage and expressed her pride on how far the organization has come in such a short period, being able to fill out the holes and smoothen the bumps of gaining a new constitution.
“The entire senate is great,” explains Dean Tharp, while also pointing out many of the events they’ve successfully organized this semester including the Presidential Ball and the Christmas Tree Lighting. However, her confidence on the members of Student Government Association are not shared by all.
On November 28th, suspicions ran high on something unusual happening during the general senate meeting. In what turned out to be a meeting filled with awkward silence and tension, as vouched by many senate members, nothing actually came to fruition. That ‘nothing’ was possibly the impeachment of a high-level member of Student Government Association.
“I think it was a productive meeting,” said Scott Miller, the VicePresidentforAdministration. The meeting was focused on the discussion of possibly creating a committee, the downsides of creating another committee, and how many senators thought it was crucial to have food at the next meeting. “We talked about a lot.”
Scott Miller confirmed to The Pauw Wow that he was indeed approached by senators looking up the process of impeachment.
It was also confirmed by Senator Allyson Pullis that she has heard rumors about the possible impeachment of Venny Jean Turner, the SGA President, but Pullis was also quick to write such rumors off as nothing more than possible drama amongst students.
“[People spreading rumors anout the idea of impeachment] happens every year,” explained Senator Pullis, a senior who has seen all the ins and outs of what can happen amongst senate members.
In the constitution behind Student Government Association, the procedures for impeachment are arguably unclear, as confirmed by Senator Pullis. It states that anyone being impeached must be given some time, at least five business days, prior to defending their case. Reasons for possible impeachment includes excessive leave of absences, abuse of club funds, and other things like, asPullisputit,“stealingoffice supplies.”
Under the current constitution, President Turner can be seen as possibly distant from her peers because she is not required to attend the general senate meetings. It is the responsibility of Vice President Miller to run the meetings. If Turner is absent for a meeting, Kyera Shea, the Chief of Staff, is required to sit in for her.
“Venny is guiding us all,” said Miller in Turner’s defense. Though confirming that he was asked about the procedures of impeachment, Miller denied any further involvement with the possible impeachment of any senate member. Miller, expressing a view shared by most students who were interviewed, believed that impeachment was too extreme. Everyone also agreed that an impeachment would damage SGA’s reputation.
In reality, all who were interviewed by The Pauw Wow were quick to defend Turner, like Miller and Pullis, and even Kyera Shea, whose role is appointed by Turner herself. Shea described Turner as charismatic, but seemed confused, as she later contradicted what both Miller and Pullis confirmed.
“That didn’t happen,” said Shea, shaking her head, when told that it had been confirmed that people had been spreading rumors about a possible impeachment.
Shea also vehemently defended Turner, and completely rejected the idea of a possible scandal being what SGA needed to create an awareness of who they are. Shea even requested later on to hear and be given all the audio tapes of interviews with Dean Tharp, President Turner, Vice President Miller, Senator Pullis, and herself before publication.
Word travels fast within the offices of Student Government Association. Turner confirmed that she received multiple text messages in the middle of the night after there was a buzz about several interviews regarding this matter, but she denied ignoring theopportunitytobeinterviewed.
“[To not answer any emails over the weekend] is a way for me to pull myself out of the situation and come back refreshed,” said Turner.
Students have also expressed some doubts in Turner’s actions, but not to the point of issues crossing the line from professional to personal.
Turner was asked how she felt about the rumors that an impeachment would likely take place at the next scheduled meeting on December 14th because her naysayers want to see her reaction. “Every organization out there has rifts, so I really would be lying if I said, ‘no there’s not,’ because there is ,” explained Turner, who appeared visibly shaken and stressed. “I may not be the best president, but I do strive to do whatever I can.”
Several senators also revealed that they are unable to speak up during meetings about their dissatisfaction because of the fear of being targeted by Dean Tharp and President Turner.
Dean Tharp expressed her eagerness to talk to any student approaching her, keeping open lines of communication, and hopes that they are comfortable in doing so.
Turner, on the other hand, put it simply once the recorder – believing that tossing “that was off the record” after a statement would make it just that – was put away:
“If a person has a target on their back, it’s there for a reason.”
