Brown formally resigns as VP

The Undergraduate Student Government president announced during its Wednesday meeting she has formed an internal taskforce to look into possibilities of restructuring the student government.

Tequia Hicks said she formed the USG Restructuring Task Force to examine what does and does not work with the governing body, including looking into how student governments at other universities in the state work. The task force will then report back by March 11 to suggest recommendations for change, Hicks said.

“We would be the first to admit that our system of Undergraduate Student Government is not perfect,” Hicks said.

Hicks’ proposal comes on the heels of Vice President Nate Brown’s resignation, which was formally announced at Wednesday’s meeting.

Brown, who attended the meeting to help the interim Vice President Summer Edmondson, spoke briefly to the senate saying he was proud to have served. Brown resigned after announcing a proposal for a new governing body, which he said needs to be formed to address student issues that USG is unable to tackle.

Controversy swelled last week when senators called for Brown’s resignation. The 23 senators at this meeting were more subdued. There are 58 senate seats available and 33 are currently filled. Hicks said the addition of 11 resolutions and amendments underscores heightened senator involvement. Hicks said Brown’s resignation has revitalized what appeared to be a group of apathetic and unprofessional senators.

“It is about the right time to actually step up,” Hicks said. “The senate sees how serious it is.”

Brown said the meeting seemed to run smoother than in the past. But, he said, this does not convince him that USG’s problems have disappeared.

“There is more than just the structure,” Brown said.

Over the past two weeks, Brown has expressed frustrations with the senate’s inability to pass resolutions or address internal amendments. Senators have countered that the executive branch has not coached the inexperienced senate enough.

Hicks said Brown’s resignation has left a serious gap in USG’s leadership. She said she knows the campus and the community will be watching to see if the organization will recognize that it must change.

Senator TyJuan Cratic said the resignation will not change what the senate will be able to accomplish this semester. Instead Cratic said the students do not believe that another student body is needed because USG is responding to their needs.

“We are just getting charged up,” Cratic said. “It didn’t take his resignation. It just took some going out to talk to people. It’s bad, but things are going to get better.”

Senator Grant Mullen said the governing body will have to overcome its internal conflicts. Mullen said senators were beginning to focus on Brown’s presence and not their jobs.

“USG needs to move on,” Mullen said.

Brown said USG has been attempting to change its image across campus. He said the perception that student senators are apathetic, never show up to meetings and ignore formal legislative processes has left a bad mark on USG.

Brown will need 5,000 student signatures for his proposal to be on the ballot in April’s elections. Senators have already begun petitioning the student body for signatures. Once the plan is voted on, if it passes, the chancellor will then decide if a new government would take shape.

Brown is in the process of ratifying his constitution, which would call for an overhaul of the current format of student government. Hicks said she is not for or against a new student government, but it is important to explore all of the options available to the organization.

“There are areas within our system that are in need of improvements,” Hicks said. “Some more than others.”

Reporter Moustafa Ayad can be reached at [email protected]