Three student senators dismissed

By Laura Beard
Northern Light

The Union of Students at the University of Alaska Anchorage dismissed three senators Jan. 23 due to unsatisfactory academic performance.

Student body President Jake Gondek did not release the names of the dismissed senators.

“I would prefer to let it just happen over time,” Gondek said Jan. 24.

According to Article Five of the Constitution of the Union of Students, members of USUAA must have and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5. Failure to meet the minimum academic requirement results in automatic removal from office.

The allowances for members in poor academic standing provided in the bylaws are unfounded, Sen. Cassie Iutzi-Mitchell said.

“The bylaws and the Constitution are in direct contradiction of each other,” Iutzi-Mitchell said.

An indiscretion in USUAA bylaws could have allowed the delinquent senators to remain in office under an academic performance probationary period. Article One outlines the qualifications members of student government must meet in order to remain active.

Any member found to have a cumulative GPA below 2.5 is requested by the Rules Committee to submit a letter of resignation, or to enter into an academic performance agreement with a Student Leadership Coordinator within five working days, under Clause Two.

Members with a GPA below 2.0 will be dismissed without the opportunity of probation, according to Clause Three.

Clause Four limits USUAA members to one semester of probation for academic performance during their service.

The Constitution that governs the USUAA is approved by the student body, and supersedes the bylaws laid by the union members.

The Assembly recognized the probationary semester described in the bylaws was unconstitutional under the current language. The bylaws would have to be amended to fall in alignment with the Constitution. Members discussed the issue at length in meetings on Jan. 16 and 23.

“Regardless of whether the senators stay or not, we have to change the bylaws,” Sen. Boris Lopez said.

Lopez added that senators with a cumulative GPA below 2.5 should be focusing on schoolwork.

“That’s why we are all here to begin with,” Lopez said.

A change to the Constitution was suggested, then rejected after several members pointed out that any changes to the Constitution would have to be voted into approval by the student body during elections, which don’t occur again until the end of spring semester.

Government Relations Director Mike Dingman suggested holding off amendment of the bylaws until the Constitution could be changed to include a probation period, allowing the senators in question to remain in office.

Vice President Trevor Fulton told the dismissed senators they shouldn’t let this discourage them from participating in student government in the future.

The senators will be eligible to participate in the Assembly again once they satisfy the GPA requirements.