By Signe K. Skinion

The speedy appointment of Edwin Sawyer at the end of last semester as the new Undergraduate Student Government Vice President has left some senators questioning constitutional policy.

The unexpected resignation of former USG President Duane Sherman, succeeded by former USG Vice President Kim Clemens, left the vice president seat open with only a week left in the semester. Clemens chose Sawyer, who served as USG president last academic year, as her replacement in the same meeting as Sherman’s resignation, and the Senate approved the decision.

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Eric Bottom, business senator, said he feels Sawyer will do a good job in the new position, but he said he feels the appointment did not go through the proper channels.

Ed’s going to do a great job, Bottom said. I think there should have been more consideration and time to his appointment. I don’t feel we followed the rules very well.

Bottom had called for a motion to table Sawyer’s nomination until last night’s USG meeting, but there were not enough votes in favor of his motion.

The USG vice president presides over senate meetings and fills in for the president in the chief executive’s absence.

Scott Pfeiffer, USG chief-of-staff, said the appointment did move fast, but he said Sawyer was the best candidate.

We needed someone to fill the vice president position quickly, and they had to be strong to do the position well, Pfeiffer said. We have a strong senate, and we didn’t want to weaken any of the senate positions. After some investigation, we felt Ed (Sawyer) would fit the bill of being experienced for the position without weakening the senate in any other areas.

Donald Rehmer, west side senator, said he understood Bottom’s protest but does feel Sawyer will help the senate considerably.

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I know Eric (Bottom) seemed to think Sawyer’s appointment was not done by Hoyle, but Duane’s (Sherman) resignation caught the senate by surprise, Rehmer said. I think he (Sawyer) will benefit everyone at USG.

Pfeiffer said he can understand why some senators may have felt overwhelmed by the speed of the appointment, but he said it was necessary.

Sawyer said he accepted the position only after making sure the USG Constitution allowed the appointment.

We pealed through the constitution because it is extremely important to follow the constitution on such a matter as this, Sawyer said. I am very constitutionally-minded, and I wanted to make sure it was legitimate and that it made for a solid appointment.

Andrew Ensor, Southern Hills senator, said the vice president position is tough but needed to be filled quickly.

What Kim (Clemens) did was pick someone who already knew how to do the job, and that was either Sawyer or Carin Musak (USG Vice President last year), Ensor said. Sawyer is competent, and that’s what the Senate needs.

Clemens said she had talked to several people about the position, and Sawyer was both interested and experienced.

I had approached my chief of staff (Pfeiffer) and Carin Musak, and both had turned down the position for various reasons, Clemens said. Ed had approached me about the position, and he was one of the best choices too, because of his experience.

Sawyer said he is excited about being returning to USG, he said he has mixed feelings about his new position.

I have never ran a meeting before, Sawyer said. I have always been on the senate or been president. It’s quite different.