The UT Student Government senators voted to revise their constitutional bylaws on Tuesday in an amendment that restricts students from running for the office of president or vice president if they have not previously held a SG position.
Shelby Santos, chief of the Judicial Advisory Board, presented the amendment before the senate on Feb. 12, which stated, “For the President and Vice President and Vice President positions, one of the candidates must have previously held a Student Government position. Standing as a Student Government representative for your organization does not suffice this requirement.”
The SG Senate revisited the amendment on Tuesday to determine if the revision would take effect immediately or after the spring election cycle. In a nine to three vote with three members abstaining, the Senate voted to immediately uphold the amendment.
“The purpose of this amendment is to ensure that at least one member on the presidential ticket will have the benefit of experience when coming into office,” SG President Matt Rutkovitz said. “Knowing the organization and basic operations of Student Government is invaluable during the transition period.”
Rutkovitz said the amendment will benefit future SG staffs by preventing potential issues that would arise if someone unfamiliar with their procedures were elected president. Rutkovitz described the situation of his 2012 running partner Alison McKay’s resignation once they were elected and how his knowledge of SG policy helped him determine a course of action when he began looking for a new VP.
“Change isn’t always easy, but sometimes it’s for the best,” Rutkovitz said. “To be the best Student Government leader, you need to have that Student Government experience.”
Although the revision to the bylaws prohibits many students from running for the office of president or vice president, the requirement to campaign isn’t restricted to current officers. Rutkovitz explained that anyone who has held an official position with UT’s SG during his or her college career is eligible, regardless of the amount of time spent in that role.
For those eligible, election packets are due to the SG office March 19 by 5 p.m.
Joshua Napier can be reached at joshua.napier@theminaretonline.com