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Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009 2:50 p.m.

Suspended SA senator files lawsuit to postpone allocations meeting

by Madeleine Morgenstern

On the eve of the initial allocations meeting, Student Association Sen. Anthony Marenna, CCAS-U,  filed a lawsuit in Student Court challenging his senate suspension and demanding that Tuesday night’s allocations meeting be put on hold until the Court could hear his case.

Executive Vice President Jason Lifton and Sen. Erik Ashida, the named defendants, announced Tuesday that they will plead no contest to Marenna’s complaint, and allow Marenna to participate in the allocations meeting in order to ensure that student organizations receive their operating budgets as scheduled.

Marenna –  who was suspended Friday along with Sen. Brandon Feldman, SoB-U, after they missed three consecutive Academic Affairs Committee meetings – alleges that Ashida, CCAS-U, held an unconstitutional committee-elect meeting on April 21, 2009. The complaint also alleges that Ashida failed to give proper three-day notification of another missed meeting.

The complaint included a request for an emergency injunction from the court to prevent Tuesday’s allocations meeting from taking place.

Lifton said he believes that Marenna should remain suspended, but said that one student’s behavior should not keep the entire student body from receiving funding from the SA.

“Delaying allocations is not an option in my mind, so in the interest of every member of the student body, I will not let him hold up allocating money,” Lifton said.

Ashida echoed Lifton’s sentiments, and said he stands by his original decision to suspend Marenna.

“Participation is essential in an advocacy committee like Academic Affairs. In his complaint, he’s not protesting the fact that he was not present at those meetings. He is alleging that I called those meetings improperly,” Ashida said.

Marenna said that he would accept a no contest plea.

“I welcome this opportunity for the senate to move on and to put our full focus on the allocations meeting, which is exactly what the student body deserves,” Marenna said.

The SA allocations meeting is scheduled for tonight at 9 p.m. in the Elliott School’s “State Room” in 1957 E Street.

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Friday, Sept. 25, 2009 6:16 p.m.

Marvin Center space to be only for students, University

by Emily Cahn

Space in the Marvin Center will now be exclusively reserved for student and University events, the University announced Friday evening.

In the past, outside organizations could pay to reserve rooms in the Marvin Center, but beginning Oct. 1, the space “will be reserved solely for student and University-sponsored events during the academic year,” said University spokeswoman Michelle Sherrard.

“The Marvin Center will no longer be available for use during the academic year by groups not affiliated with the University,” Sherrard said in a news release. “Space rentals in the Marvin Center will be available free of charge for University groups. The Marvin Center’s meeting and event space will continue to be exclusively provided for student-focused activities on weekday evenings after 6 p.m. and on weekends during the academic year.”

The need for additional student space has become a hot button issue over the past few years, as the number of student groups have grown and the amount of student space has stayed the same.

Student Association President Julie Bindelglass said this is something the SA has been advocating for since before she was elected, but she said that she, along with Executive Vice President Jason Lifton, have continued to lobby the University on the issue since they took office in May.

“The Marvin Center is student space. It is our student union, our student center, and so we’re both so ecstatic that this was passed,” she said.

In 2004, the University conducted a study that said Marvin Center space had increasingly been used for non-University events over the course of the previous seven years.

Sherrard did not immediately comment on the amount of money the University would lose by no longer renting out Marvin Center space.

Robert Chernak, senior vice president for SASS, said that preserving Marvin Center space exclusively for students and University events will positively affect student life.

“Student-use and student accessibility of the Marvin Center is a priority for the University,” Chernak said in the University’s release. “This new model will better meet the needs of students and give them a central spot on campus for study groups, meetings and other gatherings.”

Lorraine Voles, vice president for External Relations, will now oversee a majority of the major venues on campus, including all outdoor University spaces, 1918 F St., 1957 E St., Marvin Center, Lisner Auditorium and the Jack Morton Auditorium, according to the release. Michael Peller, formerly the managing director of the Marvin Center and University Conferences, will now serve in a newly created position as assistant vice president for events and venues.

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Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009 9:02 p.m.

SA fixes bylaws discrepancy

by Amanda Dick

Hatchet Staff Writer Madeleine Morgenstern wrote this report.

Members of the Student Association Senate used their first official vote of the school year to resolve a bylaws inconsistency on Sunday afternoon.

Executive Vice President Jason Lifton recapped the problem, which The Hatchet reported last week. According to Lifton, 2008-2009 EVP Kyle Boyer did not receive the revised bylaws that were used during the 2007-2008 school year by then-EVP Brand Kroeger.

Lifton referred to it as a “clerical mistake,” and said that as a result Boyer used bylaws from 2006-2007 EVP Joshua Lasky.

He added that he has since been in contact with Kroeger, who gave him a copy of the revised bylaws that had been in use during his time as EVP. However, with no accompanying legislation, Lifton said that students who were senators at the time had to vouch for Kroeger’s bylaws.

The Senate bill passed on Sunday settled the two sets, which included retroactively authorizing the Graduate Affairs Committee and the Multi-Religious Affairs Director and the Pride and Community Building Initiatives Director positions.

The bill passed by acclimation, with approximately half of the senators voting by proxy.

Prior to the vote, Rules Committee Chair Jamie Baker summed up the problem.

“We’re in conflict by our own rules,” he said. “If we do not pass this, we do not have bylaws.”

The SA also announced Sunday that they will be holding a town hall-style forum this Thursday. According to the press release sent out by Lifton, they are seeking feedback from students as they “revise (their) current governing documents to make this organization more efficient and more student friendly.”

Baker added that with the SA’s influence within the University and especially with regard to student organization funding, “we wanted to ensure that the student voice was heard as much as possible through the development process of revising our governing documents.”

The revision process is meant as a general review, Baker said, not aimed at any document in particular, such as the Constitution or the Senate bylaws. Goals he hopes to focus on include making the governing documents “more effective and less confusing,” improving the organization by streamlining its rules or positions, and using the revisions as a way of putting more of what the students care about into the SA.

“The one thing that I want more than anything is regular students to come and have a state their opinions on any changes they wish to have in the SA,” Baker said.

The town hall will take place Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. in Monroe Hall, room 114.

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Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009 1:20 a.m.

SA to reconcile inconsistent bylaws

by Amanda Dick

Hatchet Staff Writer Madeleine Morgenstern wrote this report.

The Student Association Senate will convene in a special meeting on Sunday to reconcile two different sets of bylaws, Executive Vice President Jason Lifton said Monday.

Lifton said last year’s EVP Kyle Boyer could not locate the bylaws that had existed under the 2007-2008 EVP Brand Kroeger, and therefore worked using the bylaws used by the 2006-2007 EVP Joshua Lasky.

Boyer, however, said he used the set of bylaws given to him by Kroeger.

“I was using a new set of bylaws provided at transition,” he said, adding that Lasky’s would have been outdated. “I provided (Jason) an updated set of bylaws at my transition.”

The Senate bylaws are kept in a binder along with complete copies of passed and failed legislation for that year and are passed down to the new Executive Vice President at the end of each year, Lifton said.

In an e-mail to the Senate late Sunday night, Lifton called the two sets of bylaws “theoretically both valid, but both inconsistent.”

An example of this is the Graduate Affairs Committee, which was established under the 2007-2008 Nicole Capp administration. Its existence is not recognized under the bylaws that were used by Boyer, Lifton said. Capp also created smaller executive appointments that have been filled by current SA President Julie Bindelglass, but need to be reauthorized under a new set of bylaws.

This week, the SA Rules Committee will examine both sets and combine them into a complete and consistent version, which must be approved by a full Senate vote.

Members of the Senate discovered the discrepancy Sunday, Lifton said, calling it “a silly mistake that needs to be fixed.”

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Thursday, April 30, 2009 4:37 p.m.

Bindelglass, Lifton begin terms as SA president, executive vice president

by Emily Cahn

Julie Bindelglass and Jason Lifton were sworn in as the Student Association’s new president and executive vice president Thursday in the Marvin Center Continental Ballroom.

Bindelglass succeeds former SA President Vishal Aswani, and Lifton follows after former EVP Kyle Boyer.

At the ceremony, Aswani and Boyer gave remarks to the crowd of current and future members of the SA.

Boyer said he enjoyed his time as EVP and will miss the office next year when he is no longer a member of the organization.

“Exactly one year ago at this ceremony, I concluded my remarks with a little disclaimer,” said Boyer, a junior. “I said, ‘I’m not perfect, I’ll make mistakes, but I’ll never be so mistaken as to forget just how blessed and how favored I am.’ That was 364 days ago, and each day in between has seen its own array of excitements, surprises, challenges, and accomplishments.”

He continued, “Since I made those comments there have been about 15 senate meetings, a bunch of interviews, what seems like a million Hatchet articles, and one crazy election. Indeed in the last year much has transpired, and as promised I made my share of mistakes, both clerical and political. But, I was still privileged to serve as the vice president of one of the most energetic student bodies in the world.”

Aswani, Bindelglass and Lifton all thanked their families and friends for supporting them.

Lifton took the time to thank the graduating members of the SA.

“To the people leaving the SA today, have fun out there, whether you’re graduating or just moving on from student government, I wish you all the best of luck in the future and I thank you for your efforts this year and throughout your tenure at GW,” said Lifton, a sophomore. “To those of you who are leaving us via graduation, good luck out there, I am sure that you will all do great things.”

Bindelglass began crying when she thanked her family, friends and the SA Finance Committee for their support throughout the year.

“I could never have understood the bond that I would form with this amazing group of people,” Bindelglass said. “Thank you for the amount of time and effort, you kept me sane in the most hectic of times. Can anyone talk about initial allocations?”

SA Sen. Michael Komo, U-at-Large, won the Josh Lasky award for Senator of the Year and the new members of the SA Senate took the oath of office, making them official SA senators.

Although this year in the SA was filled with criticism and controversy, Aswani and Boyer said they enjoyed their time working for and serving the student body.

Boyer said, “It’s easy to linger in the past tense when you’re transitioning out of something, but as I leave you I have to say that I am still blessed, I am still favored, and no, I’ll never forget it.”

Updated, 4:55 p.m.

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Monday, April 20, 2009 10:01 p.m.

Students express concern over proposed constitutional revamp

by Emily Cahn

Many students, including Student Association President-elect Julie Bindelglass and SA Executive Vice President-elect Jason Lifton, expressed opposition to proposed Constitutional changes released by four SA senators Monday.

Bindelglass, a sophomore, said she felt the proposed changes were done in secret, going against her commitment to transparency.

“While I am in agreement that reform is definitely necessary, I have some serious hesitations with regard to the approach taken,” Bindelglass wrote in an e-mail to the SA senate. “First and foremost, the work that has supposedly been going on all year was apparent to no one, as it took place behind closed doors and in secret sessions. For us to move forward as an organization next year, we need to work together to emphasize openness and transparency.”

Bindelglass added, “Offhand mention of [the new Constitution] was made throughout the year and the meeting was called in a very questionable manner — these things go against everything we are working for. With classes coming to an end and senate business having been apparently closed for the year, this is not the time to put forth a proposal of this magnitude, and with little consideration for others.”

Lifton, a sophomore, echoed Bindelglass’ sentiments.

“It is great that we have a strong group of people who are working to help the student leaders in the SA do their jobs better, but I feel that a drastic measure such as a new constitution must incorporate as many students as possible, and not just a group of senators,” Lifton said. “Going forward, I am excited to work with as many students as possible to take a look at the way that our organization operates.”

Jordan Chapman — a junior and the SA’s vice president for judicial and legislative affairs — said he too feels the changes are rushed.

“The year is almost over. Why the rush?” said Chapman, a junior. “Is it because the driving forces behind it won’t be here next year? This is why people hate the SA, and frankly, I don’t blame them.”

SA Sen. Steve Glatter, Law, said the proposed changes would do nothing to help the problems within the SA.

“Whenever things go poorly in the SA, people never think to blame themselves, wind up blaming the structure, and try to push through a new constitution as if that would save their legacy,” said Glatter. “The year I served in the Capp administration was both uniquely successful and the only one of the last four years when a new constitution wasn’t introduced — I don’t think that’s an accident.”

Phil Bianchi, chief of staff for EVP Kyle Boyer and Lifton’s incoming chief of staff, also disagrees with the method of pushing through constitutional changes.

“I think change is a good thing, but I dont think that this is the right way to do it,” said Bianchi, a junior. “At this time of the year the student body is focused on other things like finals and the summer. It isn’t right for a lame duck senate to push this legislation down everyone’s throats when nobody is watching.”

The proposed constitutional changes will be brought up before the SA senate Tuesday night at a special meeting to be held on the Mount Vernon Campus. If the SA senate votes in favor of the document, the changes will not go into place until they are voted on by the general student body. If a referendum is needed, it will take place in the fall when students return to campus.

Edit: 7:25a.m.

In response to the reactions from Bindelglass and other members of the SA, the four Senators who wrote the legislation said they were puzzled by the response.

“We were caught off guard and extremely surprised by the content of her message,” wrote SA Sens. Nick Polk, U-at-Large, Michelle Tanney, CPS-G, Michael Komo, CCAS-U,  and SA Senator-elect Jamie Baker, CPS-G, in an e-mail. “It was just this past Saturday, April 18, that we met with Julie for about an hour to go over the proposed changes. She gave us her unequivocal support for the legislation.”

The e-mail continued on to say that the work done on the Constitution was not meant to be secretive.

We first announced working on this in October of 2008. This is reflected in the article that was published in the Hatchet on October 16, 2008: Hatchet article Additionally, Senator Dobson posted on his blog on October 14, 2008, that efforts were underway to amend the Constitution. To get a wide range of opinions, we not only worked with current senators, but we have also with past and future senators as well. This includes Jason Karasik (At-Large-G Emeritus and current attorney), Brandon Sherr (CCAS-G Emeritus and 2L at Fordham Law), Andrew Salzman (GSEHD and VPJLA Emeritus) and Christopher Jenkins (CCAS-G and Parliamentarian Emeritus, alum of the Graduate School of Political Management). Additionally, we have brought in student leaders, regular students, faculty members, administration, elected officials, and unelected officials to write this document. There has been an enormous amount of time and effort put into this document. This was not done behind closed doors by any means. We invited senators to give us their input when constructing this document.

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Friday, Feb. 27, 2009 1:24 a.m.

Boyer misses mark by two votes

by Emily Cahn

This post was written by Alli Hoff, a Hatchet staff writer.

Updated 10:35 a.m.

Kyle Boyer missed clinching the Student Association presidency by two votes Thursday night, according to uncertified results released by the Joint Elections Committee early Friday.

Boyer waits for election results with members of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity

Boyer waits for election results with members of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. Michelle Rattinger/Hatchet photographer

Boyer, who garnered 39.97 percent of the vote, missed the 40 percent plurality mark necessary to win the race by two votes, forcing a runoff election with the runner-up in the presidential race, sophomore Julie Bindelglass. Jason Lifton, a sophomore, won the executive vice president spot with 58 percent of the vote.

Bindelglass garnered 23.1 percent of the vote.

“This is a big statement in a seven-person race,” said Boyer, a junior. “I think it’s a very clear statement about what our students want this year.”

Bindelglass, a sophomore, said she is excited to move on to the runoff election.

“I’m so excited about how the students have spoken,” she said. “We are now one step closer to taking our SA back.”

Lifton is hoisted up by supporters Thursday night. Michelle Rattinger/Hatchet photographer

Bindelglass’s team of supporters—sporting kelly green T-shirts with the campaign’s motto “Take Back the SA”—surrounded Bindelglass when the results were announced. Boyer’s team of supporters, consisting primarily of fellow members of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, sang songs and cheered after the results were announced.

More than 100 students arrived in Columbian Square at 9 p.m. and many waited more than three hours for the results from the Joint Election Committee, which oversees the elections.

Crowds grew larger and anticipation ran high as members of the JEC released names of the victors in the SA Senate and Program Board contests, slowly moving closer to the biggest announcements of the evening—the winners of the presidential and vice-presidential races.

Lifton said he surprised by his win against junior Louis Laverone.

“I’m shaking right now,” he said in the minutes after the results were announced. “I really don’t know what to say.”

Lifton said he attributes his success to endorsements from the graduate school and the support of the Greek-letter community. He met with members of sororities and fraternities throughout the campaign, visiting their chapter meetings and discussing his ideas.

“It was really word of mouth, getting out there and talking to people,” Lifton said. “You can read your platform, but you’ve got to get your foot in the door with the students.”

All three winning candidates are members of Greek-letter organizations. Many of their fellow Greek-letter organization members, wearing the letters of their fraternities and sororities, turned out.

Bindelglass said she plans to further expand her support team in the weeks leading up to the run-off election.

“I’m really looking forward to going out and meeting everyone over the next two weeks,” she said. “I’m going to keep doing the same thing I’ve been doing, telling people about my ideas and fighting for our SA.”

Heading into the two weeks before the next contest, Boyer said he also plans to continue with the same campaign he brought to the Feb. 25 and Feb. 26 contest.

“I’m going to go right back out there now and campaign hard,” Boyer said. “It’s the same game plan.”

Exiting the Marvin Center with the rest of the crowd a few minutes after midnight, Lifton was caught up in the excitement and celebration of his evening—which, unlike those of Boyer and Bindelglass—meant the end of a long campaign.

“I’m so excited right now,” he said, laughing. “I have a midterm tomorrow, so we’ll have to see how that goes after this.”

The run-off election will take place March 11 and 12.

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Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009 12:20 p.m.

Lifton announces run for EVP

by Emily Cahn

Jason Lifton, a sophomore and Student Association vice president of community affairs, announced Wednesday morning that he will run for executive vice president.

Lifton said as EVP, he would focus on advocating rather than programming.

“I have seen the SA become a programming body that over steps its boundaries, an SA that does not spend their time advocating for students and instead gets caught up in its own internal politics and an SA that doesn’t make a unified effort to communicate with students,” Lifton said in a press release. “All of these things are unacceptable to me.”

In his candidacy statement, Lifton listed some of his goals.

“As EVP I plan to work with the President to lobby the university’s administration on items of student concern,” said Lifton. “The same hot button issues that we have faced for years are still in the forefront of our attention. We must work to improve dining options, provide adequate space for student use and we can no longer afford to have a sub par advising system.”

Lifton said his experience on current SA President Vishal Aswani’s cabinet allowed him to form necessary relationships with administrators.

“This past year I have worked in the Foggy Bottom community on behalf of the university, as Vice President for Community Affairs,” Lifton wrote. “Through this position I have been given the opportunities to work with administrators on every level. In a school that is mummified in red tape, these relationships will help me to lobby for students without having to deal with the GW bureaucracy.”

Lifton is the second student to announce his candidacy for a position in the SA executive. SA elections will take place Feb. 25 and 26.

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