This story has been corrected from its original posting.
Despite the excitement created by an announcement that Dave Matthews Band might visit Ohio University's campus in March, the mood in Student Senate was tense yesterday night as the group impeached its vice president.
After about two hours of discussion in executive session in last night's meeting, senators voted to impeach Vice President Amanda Roder on two of five charges of violating senate rules.
Roder was found to be in violation of rules requiring her to ensure that senators have access to material necessary for understanding senate processes and to distribute an executive officer evaluation form to all senators in the fourth week of the quarter.
Roder, who declined to comment, left the room while senators voted until Senate President Tim Vonville told her she needed to be present for the collection of the ballots. Neither Roder nor Vonville voted.
Had Roder been found in violation of the fifth charge, gross or willful neglect of duty, she would have been removed from office.
Conduct and Discipline Committee Chairman Tristan Walker read the voting results aloud but did not announce the tallies. Roder was also voted not guilty of violating rules concerning the makeup of the Student Trustee Selection Committee. She introduced a resolution at the senate's Jan. 30 meeting that would have added the Graduate Student Senate President and a faculty representative to the committee.
Graduate Student Senate President Dominic Barbato had previously attended the group's first meeting. Roder said at the time that she was not aware a graduate senate representative had been removed from the committee the previous year. Specific details about charges against Roder are included in a confidential report. According to the senate's Rules and Procedures, only the defendant G
he said.
To impeach a senator, another senator must file a complaint with the Conduct and Discipline Committee, according to the senate's Rules and Procedures. If the committee finds sufficient evidence to find that senator guilty, it presents a report to the entire senate, which then discusses a possible impeachment in executive session.
Academic Affairs Commissioner Chris Diehl said he was glad to see the senate was holding people responsible for their actions.
I think this is a step in the right direction Diehl said. I'm interested to see how the process plays out in the next meeting.
The Committee on Conduct and Discipline will present a report suggesting consequences for Roder's violations next Wednesday.
Before the impeachment, Vice President for Student Affairs Kent Smith announced he has seen a contract that might bring Dave Matthews Band to Athens for a Barack Obama rally. Though the contract still needs to be signed off on by university officials and a Chicago production company, the rally would be held March 2 in the Convocation Center, Smith said, adding that Obama is not scheduled to attend.
Smith said about 9,000 tickets will be available if the contract is finalized.
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Anne Elliott
