by Joe Harris
senior editor

The Student Government Association assembly passed a vote of no-confidence against SGA president, Darwin Butler at Thursday's meeting.

The resolution was introduced by Aaron Farmer, a sophomore majoring in political science. It states: "I make a motion of no confidence in Darwin Butler as SGA president, due to his non-attendance at the meeting today, which is repetitive behavior for him. This lack of attendance demonstrates his failure to perform his duties responsibly with obligation and commitment to fully represent the entire student body and this assembly. With this stipulation we motion for a vote of no confidence and the initiation of impeachment proceedings."

The resolution was passed with three abstentions and no nays. Impeachment proceedings could not begin, though, with this resolution's passing because a quorum was not present at the meeting.

A quorum is achieved when a simple majority is present. Interim SGA vice president Steven Wolfe called for the quorum.

"For any resolution made, to be binding, [it] needs a majority of the representatives here," Wolfe said.

Once the absence of a quorum was established, Farmer made a motion to suspend the rules, meaning the resolution could be passed without a quorum. The motion passed.

D. Mike Bauer, chair of SGA, said the no-confidence can be passed, but impeachment proceedings cannot begin without a quorum.

"I think that the sentiment is pretty strong among the student body right now, and Darwin is going to have a lot of work to do if he wants to remedy this," Bauer said. "A vote of no confidence not only sends a message to Darwin himself, but it also sends a message to the divison of student affairs, and they will be taking the vote of no confidence into consideration. They have the unilateral power, with Chancellor Blanche Touhill, to simply remove him from office."

Michael Rankins, graduate school representative and former SGA vice president, said the no-confidence vote sends a strong message about Butler's leadership.

"This makes a very serious statement that those students in this room and, we would assume, those students they represent, which adds up to a huge number have no confidence in the leadership of Mr. Butler and want him out," Rankins said.

The number of Butler's absences, Rankins said, including Butler's absence at the most recent SGA meeting, may be a concern for some students. Rankins said that impeachment would have to be decided by the Student Court, or Student Affairs if it is appealed, but that there might be some grounds for it.

"I guess I would have to give my own interpretation and say that I'm very concerned about them," Rankins said, "and it looks to me as if they might be impeachable offenses."

Farmer has started a petition to get enough names in order to start the impeachment process. The SGA constitution states the petition must have 5 percent of the student body, or 604 students, to start impeachment proceedings.

Farmer said he was happy that the resolution passed, but he wished there had been a quorum present.

"It would have been nice if there had been some more members here so the vote could have been official," Farmer said. "We will get enough signatures and send [the petition] off to the Student Court for the vote of no-confidence."

Farmer said he hopes to have enough names and the petition submitted by next week.