A University sophomore disgruntled with recent student government actions filed paperwork Friday to begin a recall of the ASUO Executive and the ASUO Student Senate.
If the ASUO Constitution Court approves computer and information science major Silas Snider’s request, he will have one month to gather signatures of 10 percent of fee-paying students — about 1,800 signatures — to force a special election giving voters the option to
recall the officials.
A majority of voters would be needed to remove the officials from office, according to the Green Tape Notebook, which governs the structure of student government.
Snider said he wants a recall because of student leaders’ actions on and after the Oct. 8-10 Sunriver retreat, at which ASUO officials admitted an unspecified number of the 39 members who went on the trip drank alcohol and smoked marijuana, a violation of the Student Conduct Code.
“I am seeking this action specifically because of the incidents that occurred during the retreat to Sunriver this last October, as well as the attitude displayed by the ASUO that they are generally above the rules and regulations that apply to the general populace,” Snider said in the written request.
Taking group responsibility for the incident, the ASUO proposed several punishments, including community service and paying back student money used for the trip. The final agreement between participants and Student Judicial Affairs Director Chris Loschiavo did not include repayment because officials said it would not be feasible to raise the money or determine how much money would be necessary because much of the retreat was productive.
Snider said it was unclear exactly how replacements for the officials would be selected. He said replacements might be selected by a special election, appointed by the court or appointed by the three senators who were appointed and thus can’t be recalled.
In the request, Snider urged the Court to act quickly, saying he is “requesting haste in this matter, both because I would like to get this done before dead and finals week (sic), and because I would like to get this over with as soon as possible.”
Chief Justice Randy Derrick said the court has received the petition, but wouldn’t discuss the specifics of the case because it is under review.
“As a court we don’t talk about specifics of a case as it is before us, except to say we will handle this in a manner that is consistent with the ASUO Constitution and the
Constitution Court rules,” Derrick said.
He said the court will review the case in a time frame consistent with the constitution.
ASUO Public Relations Director Nathan Strauss said it was “unfortunate the student feels the way he does,” but the Executive won’t act
until the petition is complete.
“Until 10 percent of the associated students’ signatures are gathered, this is not really an issue we’re concerned with,” he said.
He noted that 10 percent of the student body is about the turnout of last year’s general election.
Strauss said “there is no doubt (Snider) would feel more confident” if he spoke with ASUO officials about his concerns, noting that the ASUO held a town hall meeting on Tuesday to
solicit such feedback.
“It’s too bad he couldn’t make it, though. We didn’t see him on
Tuesday,” Strauss said.
Strauss said he was not sure if the Court would automatically grant Snider’s request to petition, but he assumed it would allow him to
gather signatures.
Snider said he started thinking about taking action in October, but only seriously considered it two to three weeks ago.
“When they decided to take group responsibility and not really do anything, I was appalled and tried to take action,” he said.
He said he has been concerned about other ASUO actions as well.
“I probably wouldn’t be quite as upset over the Sunriver incident if it was the only thing they had done,” he said.
Snider said he and his friends plan to distribute petitions if his request is granted, adding that he is optimistic about getting enough signatures to
recall the officials.
“It’s been encouraging. Everyone I’ve talked to has been willing to sign,” he said. “Whether they vote is another matter.”
This isn’t the first time students have attempted to recall an elected official. In 2000, two students received permission from the court to gather signatures in an effort to oust ASUO President Jay Breslow, accusing him of political bias and neglecting his duties. But their efforts ended Dec. 13, 2000, when they failed to collect enough signatures, according to a Jan. 8, 2001, Emerald article.
Student starts petition to recall ASUO officials
Daily Emerald
February 6, 2005
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