VP's absence postpones constitution vote

Mindy McCollum, vice president of programs and services, said she could not attend the 6 p.m. Central Coordinating Council meeting because of spring rush. McCollum is the president of Alpha Phi sorority.

Undergraduate Senate Chairman Gilbert Davidson said all members of the CCC must be present to vote on the constitution, therefore, the council did not meet quorum. It was unknown if McCollum knew the affect her absence would have.

The CCC is composed of ASUA's two vice presidents, the Senate chairman and two senators. The student body president votes only in case of a tie.

The CCC attempted to include McCollum in the meeting via telephone, but McCollum said she could not discuss or vote on the constitution because she did not have a copy of it in front of her.

The council, including McCollum via speakerphone, did vote unanimously to approve the names of the ASUA offices because the Elections Commission needed to place the official names on election paperwork.

The vice presidential positions changed from vice president of clubs and organizations and vice president of programs and services to executive vice president and administrative vice president.

The CCC scheduled another meeting for Monday at 8 a.m. to vote on the constitution.

Monday, the Elections Commission will have election packets available for prospective candidates. The packets include nominating petitions which, along with the rest of the packet, must be completed by Feb. 10.

After the meeting, ASUA President Rhonda Wilson said the CCC will have to compromise Monday on the issue of the presidential veto.

The constitution the council is voting on states that a presidential veto will be presented to the Senate and the executive and administrative vice presidents. The senate and vice presidents could then override the veto with a three-fourths majority.

ASUA's executive officers, who include the president, vice presidents and treasurer, submitted a memo at the Jan. 22 Senate meeting stating they wanted a presidential veto to be sent to a committee instead of the Senate. The committee would consist of the student body president, the two vice presidents and two senators.

At that meeting, it approved the proposed constitution, which restructures ASUA and officially eliminates the Graduate and Professional Student Council after it split from ASUA in October.

A majority vote in the CCC is needed to approve the constitution. If the three senators vote together Monday, they will have a majority.