Rafael Macias of The Current

Steve Wolfe, interim vice president of the SGA, conducts the press conference, Oct. 12 in the Student Lounge. SGA President Darwin Butler did not attend the conference, upseting many students who did attend.

by Joe Harris
senior editor

Several students attending the Student Government Association press conference Tuesday in the Student lounge were outraged at the absence of SGA President Darwin Butler.

Steven Wolfe, SGA vice-president, said that Butler's attorney advised him not to attend the press conference. Butler has been questioned recently in the media about his felony conviction last April.

Wolfe said Butler called the press conference and set up the room. This led students to question Butler's intentions.

Aaron Farmer, a sophomore majoring in political science, said the situation is an embarrassment to him.

"It shows that he has no care for the students, that he has no care for the administration," Farmer said.

Les Owens, a senior criminal justice major, said he would have liked some clarity on the issues such as Butler's felony conviction. With Butler's absence, though, Owens said he was avoiding the students.

"It makes me feel that he is not serving us," Owens said. "It makes me feel that he is avoiding the issues that we may have."

Jackie Anderson, president of the University Program Board, said she wonders if Butler's personal life is affecting his duties as president.

"It is apparent that he really doesn't want to represent us," Anderson said. "If there's so much in his personal life that it interferes with him even coming to a simple press conference that he himself called then how is he supposed to fully represent us?"

Anderson lost to Butler in the April election by 16 votes. She said she is not interested in the position if it should come open.

"I'm the president of the University Program Board right now, I'm really enjoying my position there and I have no interest in taking over [the president's] position," Anderson said.

Butler's position as SGA president may soon come into question. His absence at the press conference led many students to look into impeachment proceedings against him.

Wolfe said any impeachment proceedings would have to follow constitutional guidelines.

"Regarding a possible impeachment all I can say is that students have to follow procedures of the 1986 student-government constitution article eight which requires a written demand of either two-thirds of the total representatives of the assembly or a petition of 5 percent of the student government association which is the student body," Wolfe said.

If a written demand is filed, it coukd go to the Student Court. The Student Court could then have a hearing and decide if impeachment or suspension is necessary.

Josh Stegman, a senior majoring in political science, said he believes there are grounds for impeachment.

"I think we have plenty of constitutional violations," Stegman said. "I think part of the problem is how we frame them. Law is so detailed and particular so you have to be careful how you phrase things because it can be thrown out on a technicality."

Stegman said grounds for impeachent could include Butler's not fulfilling his duties as president and his lack of regard for student issues.