by Joe Harris
senior editor

A conflict between the current Student Government Association Constitution and Student Association bylaws has put in doubt the student-wide election for a new SGA vice-president.

SGA president Darwin Butler said he is looking into canceling the elections. He has already named Steve Wolfe as SGA's vice-president, and he was approved by a simple majority vote at the last SGA meeting.

"The constitution we are working under conflicts with the bylaws because the bylaws state that Mr. Wolfe is the vice-president hands down," Butler said. "I will be taking it up with the student court. I'm thinking about filing a grievance to nullify [the need for] the elections."

Butler said he would then leave it up to the court's interpretation of both the constitution and the bylaws.

The 1986 Constitution, which SGA currently works under, states in Article 2. Section 2, "In case of the Vice-President's resignation, death ascension to the presidency, or impeachment and suspension, the Association shall elect from its membership a new Vice-President."

Former vice-president Carrie Mowen resigned effective Sept. 3. According to Article 2. Section 2, student-wide elections would have to be held for her successor since she resigned before Dec. 1.

Butler's appointment of Wolfe as vice-president is covered under Article II. Section 1F.

This section states "Appointing and removing, with the approval of the Assembly, a temporary Vice-President, in the case of the Association Vice-President's absence or prolonged illness."

Article II. Section 1F gives Butler the power to appoint Wolfe as the temporary vice-president. Wolfe would serve as the vice-president until elections could be held. He would also have the right to run for the position permanently in those elections.

The Bylaws of the Student Association state something different, though. Article 6. Section 1B states "If a vacancy occurs among elected representatives after the start of the fall semester, the person who received the next highest vote total in that category will fill that vacancy."

Wolfe came in second to Mowen in the April elections, which would make him the permanent vice-president.

The election's delay is unacceptable for vice-presidential hopeful Les Owens. Owens, a senior majoring in criminology, said student-wide elections for the vice-president position were promised earlier this year but have not materialized.

"I haven't seen anything posted saying that the applications should be turned in at whatever time to whatever person," Owens said.

The school year is now in October, Owens said, and there is no mention of the election. Owens pointed out that applications for both the Student Activities Budget Committee and the Election Committee were available at the SGA office, but there are no applications for vice-president.

Butler said the election committee is still planning for the vice-presidential election. He said that if the election is held, forms will be available after the October SGA meeting, and the election should take place sometime in early November.

Butler said he plans on talking to the Student Court about the constitutional conflict this week. He hopes to have a definite answer on the status of the vice-presidential elections by Friday.