A student senator resigned Friday at an Election Dispute Commission hearing after a resolution passed at Thursday’s Student Senate meeting called for an impeachment hearing.
Senator Donald Garrett read his letter of resignation at the start of the EDC hearing. Questions remain about how his resignation relates to Student Government bylaws.
“There are some discrepancies as to whether [Garrett’s resignation] is permissible [under Student Government rules],” said Student Government President Ally Bowers. “From my understanding, the resignation has to be approved, so there’s a chance there might still be a hearing.”
Garrett has taken a number of steps in the legal system, including giving notice to members of the Student Government that he will file a petition involving Student Government and Virginia FOIA Law. Garrett said he plans to file the petition Tuesday.
Resolution 27, which passed Thursday 26-2 with one abstention, cited several reasons for initiating impeachment proceedings against Garrett. Among these reasons, according to the resolution, was an email from Garrett to Bowers where he protested a proposed addition to the Election Code, Section 4.1, that would prohibit candidates from running for both Student Senate and an executive position within Student Government.
According to the resolution, Garrett said “4.1 needs to be taken out or else I will initiate legal action. Let this serve as your notice.”
According to the resolution, Garrett also “broke the George Mason University Student Code of Conduct when, after being repeatedly warned to cease reading a prepared letter on an issue that did not pertain to the matter at hand, he intentionally caused a disruption in the learning environment of GMU’s Student Government.” According to the resolution, the reading took place Oct. 20, 2011.
In his letter of resignation, Garrett said, “Although the debate in Senate yesterday was healthy, most of the comments made did not relate back to the allegations in Resolution 27. I do not trust the EDC to be a fair and neutral arbitrator and will not go forward having a hearing with that unjust body.”
The 18 senators who submitted the resolution also mentioned Robert’s Rules of Order, saying Garrett “disturbed the well-being of the organization by threatening and hampering the work of Student Government Members.”
The final charge in the resolution quoted the Student Body Constitution, which said “Any elected or appointed official under the Student Government of George Mason University can be impeached upon accusations hereby defined as alleged malfeasance, alleged corruption, alleged negligence, dereliction of duty, or alleged misconduct.”
Both “alleged malfeasance” and “alleged misconduct” were bolded in the text of the resolution.
“[Resolution 27] is not legitimate at all,” Garrett said. “I did not threaten a single individual with a lawsuit. I’m required to give notice. So all I did was cover things on my end, and it’s unfortunate that they felt threatened by what the rules of the local court are.”
Bowers spoke to members of the press regarding Thursday’s senate meeting.
“I think that what happened today was a huge move for a lot of our student leaders, a really difficult move,” Bowers said. “I also commend Donald Garrett for coming in here and standing up on his behalf to the best of his ability. I really think they did the right thing. I’m not implying that he is guilty or not guilty. That’s up to the Election Disputes Commission.”
After the resolution was moved to second reading in Old Business, the senators debated the resolution for nearly an hour. Garrett moved to amend a clause in the resolution that called for him to appear before an EDC council within 24 hours, asking for one week instead. The amendment failed.
Garrett will remain involved with Student Government, according to his letter of resignation.
“I have unfinished business in Student Government that will remain until the adjournment of the 32nd Student Senate,” according to the letter. “Seeing such, I will accept Speaker Lee’s offer to join the Speaker’s Patriot Corps so I can finish my responsibilities with What Do You Want Wednesday and the Academic Advising Expo.”
Comments