The University’s student government president could face impeachment for violating the ASUO Constitution by not appointing students to empty government seats within the time allotted by the constitution.
The ASUO Constitution Court ruled Tuesday that an ASUO president who fails to appoint a court justice within a 30-day period after the spot becomes vacant violates the constitution, possible grounds for impeachment.
ASUO President Adam Walsh has missed this deadline four times since November, but he said a lack of qualified applicants is to blame.
The Student Senate has the power to bring impeachment charges against the president through a three-fourths vote if it finds he has not fulfilled his duties. The court would then try the case and rule by majority vote.
The question of impeaching Walsh has not been brought to the court, Chief Justice Brigid Turner wrote in the ruling.
The court ruled after an inquiry by the Emerald about the consequences for Walsh if found guilty of not meeting the deadline.
Walsh said he agreed with the Court’s interpretation but that it is essentially a violation by default because he cannot control who applies or how many students apply. He said he has done everything possible to fill those positions except passing out applications on the street.
“This is not us shirking duties,” he said. “This is the reality of filling seats when there’s not enough applicants.”
He said he and ASUO Vice President Kyla Coy have done “an excellent job” of fulfilling duties this year, but only so many people have the time and the qualifications to successfully fill positions.
Every former administration has also faced problems with limited applications, Walsh said, and it’s “just not feasible” to have 30 days to fill all the open seats, “or even most of the seats.”
“We’re falling victim to the same thing that all the other organizations on campus fall victim to … put that in your pipe and smoke it,” he said.
Most recently, former Chief Justice Tony McCown resigned, and Walsh has not appointed a new justice during the more than two and a half months since.
Turnover is traditionally high in student government positions, but the Senate has by far the highest turnover. Already this year, 8 of the 18 members have quit, leaving only one senator, Senate President Stephanie Erickson, with prior Senate experience. Three positions remain vacant.
Last year, five senators had resigned by Jan. 24, leaving only two members with prior senate experience.
The first resignation of the 2005-06 school year took effect Sept. 28, but the ASUO Executive didn’t bring his replacement to the Senate for approval until Nov. 1. Walsh said there is a seven-day grace period for Senate to approve the appointment.
Walsh recently appointed another student to fill a position that has been open for more than two months.
The third position, which officially became open in mid-November, wasn’t filled until Feb. 15.
Student Senate Ombudsman and ASUO President-elect Jared Axelrod said he would have to look at the rules, but added that this is “one of the weird things about the constitution.”

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