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'The Gamecock' Reviews Senate Constitution SHEILA REARDON The new student government constitution presented il full in this week's issue of The Gamecock, is one of the majoi achievements of the Todd Wilson Administration. Compar ing this new text to the one presently governing the Caro lina Community enables one to truly appreciate the amoun1 of work, thought and effort that went into its composition It must be commended for its vision, perspective and fore thought. However, after careful perusal of the document, ther( are several reservations concerning it that shall be pre sented here in hope that the USC students will take th_n into consideration before casting their ballot April 10. The first question brought to mind is the structure ol the Judiciary Council for both men and women. As stated the Dean of Students will have the authority to appoint tht student judges. Why shouldn't this power be delegated t( the Student Body President along with a two-thirds con firmation of the Senate? How is the student government ir conjunction with the student body going to have the powei they have long awaited if they are constantly beholding tc the Administration? Another point worth mentioning in regard to the JudiciaJ Council and Men's Council concerns the selection of its mem bers as stated in the Constitution. As reads, it calls for the council to "be composed of not more than seven members and not less than five. Generally the presidents of the Student Body, and Senior, Junior, and Sophomore classes shall be four of these members." This is a complete violation of due process. The presidents, aforementioned, serve the student body in the capacity of administrators of the constitution, therefore, they should not be allowed to judge also the stu dents under the laws they administer. The question of appeals is also posed. If the student should desire to appeal, he must appeal to either the )ean of Men or the Dean of Women. Once again we are faced with the thought - those who administer the laws should not sit in judgment. In reference to Article IV, Section VII, dealing with pro cedure, the accused is free to present witnesses and all in formation bearing on the case that he wishes to present. Shouldn't the student accused of wrongdoing be allowed to confront and question his accuser(s); to refuse to testify against himself acd' to receive the rationale behind ttie de cision? Another highlight of the new constitution is the Sen ate's power to "require that student publications print such notices as it deems necessary for the information of the members of the Student Body, but shall have no power to restrict freedom of expression in any student publication." Is this not a contradictory statement? The student publica tions should be at liberty to publish whatever news they see free to print whether or not the Senate agrees. Is this not news management on the part of the Senate? In the section concerning the procedure for elections it is clearly stated that should a nominee for office be found -- unqualified by the Elections Committee, he will not be noti fied by them of his ineligibility. Of course it is up to the individuals running for office to be aware of his qualifica tion; yet it has often happened through a mistake in the registrar's office that a student's records are inaccurate. In this event, what harm would it do to inform the candidate that he is ineligible to run? Why have him campaign fev erishly when he has no chance of attaining the office? The most important criticism of this constitution is its failure to include a provision for initiative or referendum. - This alone is an indictment against its entire purpose. Th( constitution must be representative of the entire studeni body not just those elected to the Senate. As written, this new constitution will give the student body more voice ir the government but this can only be achieved completely through a provision for referendum or initiative. The studeni must have the right to present a new bill or measure ever if he is not a student senator. This is imperative if the stu dent wants an active voice in the Student Government. Although I have presented several criticisms of thE newly proposed constitution, in its entirety it is a tremen dous step forward in comparison to the former constitution It is designed to give the student body more authority that it has had in previous years. The Carolina students havE complained year after year about the lack of power they have and now is the chance they have to change all of this that is, if the student body reacts favorably to the constitu tion in the election to be held April 10. The Cairolina Coin munity must shake off its apathy and show an activE interest in the student government - and now is the perfeci time to do so. A Constitutional Convention will be held in the neal future. All students are urged to read carefully and conside] the constitution and its criticism, and p)resent their ideal for making this an even stronger constitution, one that ih more representative of the entire studlent body. We comment the Wilson Administration for the time andl effort they have extended in writing this document. Just A H< USC JIZ2 Student Government 1oo9 ASSE Needs Your "WE SPECIALI2 Support On Catering to Ur April 10 Serving Breakfas Also, V 0 T ECHR@ Buttered Bun. Fresh W-i THE PREAMBLE We, the students of the Univer sity of South Carolina, in order to conduct student a f f a i r s in an efficient, orderly, and syst-.natic manner; to define c l e a r l y the privileges an -1 responsibilities of 1 the students, individually and col lectively; to secure for ourselves 1 training and experience in self 7 government; and to provide an organizational framework through . which our efforts for a better University may be directed do hereby ordain and establish this constitution for the Student Body of the University of South Caro lina. t ARTICLE I The Student Body Y Section 1: Name E The name of this organization shall be the Student Body of the t University of South Carolina. d Section 2: Jurisdiction n All students, both graduate and v undergraduate, who are duly reg- w istered in the University of South f( Carolina shall be members of the ni Student Body and shall be sub- p: ject to this Constitution and to el its by-laws, the S t u d e n t Body S, Statutes. . d( Section 3: w Franchise a< All students, both graduate and si undergraduate, who have paid the m Student Activity Fee a h a I1 be s1 entitled to vote in the special and B general elections of the Student s1 Body. B rr B ARTICLE 11 B The Executive J Section 1: * Executive Powers All executive powers of the Stu dent Body shall be vested, during the Regular Session, in a Presi dent of the St ud e nt Body, of Senior standing, assisted by the Vice-President and a Student Body Treasurer, who shall se rvye as Ch a ir m an of the Committee on e Monetary Affairs, and such other administrative o f f i c e r s as the P r e s i d e n t shall appoint in ac cordance with this article. Section 2: Election of Executive Officers The President and Vice-Presi dent shall be elected by a majority of those voting in the Student Body Elections. Section 3: Duties and Powers of the President The President of the Studentt IBody shall: A. A dminister and en f orcee all laws of the Student Body. p, Skip And Jump From The MBLY (NEXT TO HEART OF COLUME E IN SERVING ONLY THE BE! der-Grads, Post-Grads and Al Is A Must on Our L.ist! I, Lunch and Dinner Daily Seve Featuring Our "Gamecock Sp< EL BROILED STEAK Si Tosed Salna ndA Fench Fres stMM91m - ---inmm Ison Ad B. Have the power to veto or sign kets of the Student Senate, and kmendments to this Constitution roposed by that Body, provided i hat he exercise such power within t dx a c h o o l days of passage by 3enate. A veto may be overridden >y a two-thirds vote of not less ;han a quorum of the Student 'enate. 0. Call and preside over meetings f the Student Body. ). Make recommendations for leg- I glation to the Student Senate, for vhich purpose he shall address c he Senate at the beginning of ach semester and at other times f ipon his request or Invitation by he Senate. t Instruct and require r e p o r t s rom standing committees and ap rove all policies made by them. . Remove, at his discretion, any a fficer whom he has appointed to position in the Executive ranch. . Act as the official representa- ih ve of the Student Body in all h iatters pertaining to the Stu ents. d Cause to be issued by the Sec- ei tary of the Treasury any check hich shall not exceed ten dollars hich he may require in the per- p rmance of courtesies in the ime of the Student Body, and -esent a statement of all such g a., ecks for post-approval of the mate. C Serve as chairman of the Stu w nt-Faculty Relations Committee, S hich shall be composed of nine Iditional students and at least x members of the faculty-ad inistration. The n i n e students all be appointed by the Student Ddy President from among out anding members of the Student ody, with additional f a c u I t y embers appointed by the Student ody President upon consultation ith the Dean of Students. Assume all p o w e r a and re )onsibilities pertaining to h i s fice. A ARTICLE lil The Legislature C Section 1: Legislative Powers All legislative p) o w e r s of the I t ud en t Body shall be vested k uring the Rogular Session, in the tudent Senate. I Section 2: Composition of the Student Senate The composition of the Student enate shall be as follows: L. The Vice-President of the Stu lent Body, of Junior or Senior t tanding, whose duties shall be as d ~ollows: t a) He shall serve as the pre iding officer of the S tu d en t ;enate anid vote only in cases of ies. b) HIe shall appoint members of ~tudent Senate Committees. c) Hie shall serve as chairman Campusil IA MOTEL) iT OF FOODS" umni of U.S.C. n Days A Week. acial" LNDWICH ......$1.0 minIstro >f an Advisory Council to the pi ; t u d e n t Body President which ti< hall include in addition, the See- G etary of the Student Senate and ai hree men and three women H lected from among the member- bx hip of that body. S, d) He shall succeed to the of- fr ice of President, should that of- si ice be permanently vacated. S1 e) He shall assume all powers I. nd responsibilities pertaining to dc is office. cc 1. The Secretary of the Student fe enate, of Junior or Senior stand- J. rig, who's d u t i e s shall be as S( ollows: St a) He shall take and maintain st he official roll of all Student th enate Meetings. K b) He shall maintain an u rchives in which shall be placed 0f n official copy of all laws, the M iinutes of Student Senate meet- E igs, and all official correspond- L. aice, as well as reports and other th iformation pertinent to the legis- vi itive body. M. c) He shall send, receive and ca istribute all official correspond- fa ice of the Student Senate. lai d) He shall perform any other ities assigned to him by the resident of the Student Senate. e) le shall be authorized to or mnize and train a secretariate to sist him in the performance of s duties. A number of men and women de ho shall be known as Student sti nators. col (1 Section 3: (2 Elections of (3 Student Senators The election of Student Senators kall be done according to tatute. Section 4: Duties and Powers of the Student Senate The Student Senate s h a I 1, in ~cordance with this constitution: .Have the power to pass any ules or regulations w h i c h are ecessary and proper for the most (a fficient conduct of the Student De overnment and the Student Body ti< tatutes. th .Enact, by majority vote, by- (1 iws to this Constitution, to be m< now.n as Student Body Statutes. th .Propose, by two-thirds v o t e,d miendmients to this constitution. S cI ). P r o v i d e for the compilation nd piublication of legislation to nsure that the Student Body is aformed. w . Ratify all appointments madep y the President of the Student (U ody b)y a majority vote.c '. Require that student publica ions print such n otice es as it enms necessary for the informa ion of the members of the Stu-V ent Body, but shall have no (i power to restrict freedom of ex- D) Across From Th~ LUNCHES Moat and Threo Drink E Open 7 A.M. To 8 P.M. Saturday 7 A.M1 ition 19 ression in any student public& :)n. , Establish Its own meeting tim id rules of procedure. . Elect, as the first order o Lainess of each newly e1ectec< mnate, a Presiaent Pro-Tempor om among its membership. H all be a voting member of th udent Senate. Hear the President of the Stu nt Body upon his request ani naider bills or resolutions of red by him. Allow only elected S t u d e n nators to serve in the Studen nate and allow no proxies, sub Itutes, or alternates to act ir e place of a Senator. . Open all meetings to the publi iless designated by the Preeiden the Student Senate or by i ajority vote of that body, as ai cecutive Session. Allow non-members to addres e Student Senate upon the in ation of a majority of the body , Have the power to declare va ncies in its membership f o: ilure to attend meetings regu -ly as provided by statute. ARTICLE IV Judicial Powers Section 1: All judicial powers of the Stu. nt Body shall be vested in a ident court system which shal isist of the following: ) Men's Judicial Council ) Women's Judicial Council )H o n o r Court (the Honoi Court is created under th< authority of the Board o: Trustees and the faculty an< exercises sole and complet< jurisdiction in all matters o: a e a d e m i c misconduct anc honor. Its procedure is gov erned by its own constitutior w h I c h enumerates member. ship, powers, and duties). Section 2: wen's Judicial Council )S ha ll be appointed by th< ~an of Students after consulta mn with the Dean of Men an< e President of the Student Body ) Sh a ll be composed of no re than seven members nor lesa an five. Generally the Presi nts of the Student Body, an nior, Junior, and Sophomor< asses shall be four of thes4 ambers. )Shall select its own chairmarn ho must have served at least on' evious semester on the council I) Shall act by the disciplinar; de adopted by the S tu d en nate and Faculty. Section 3: /omen's Judicial Counci i) Sh a ll be appointed by thi enn of Students after consults e Horseshoe DAILY a Vegetables I pc xtra Monday Thru Friday To 4 P.M. [JNDAY roposes - tion with the Dean of Women and g President of the Student Body. (b) Shall be composed of not more than seven members nor less than five. Generally the Presidents of the women's dormitories (Sims, McClintock, Wade Hampton, and South) shall compose four of these member. (c) Shall select its own chairman, who must have served at least one previous semester on the council. (d) Shall act by the disciplinary code adopted by the S t u d e n t Senate and Faculty. Section 4: Joint Council (a) Shall be composed of male and women's councils with men's chairman acting as chairman. (b) Shall have power to interpret the constitution and acts of the Student Senate: to handle im peachment procedures a g a i n at student body officers. Section 5: Penalties (a) All penalties shall be in the form of recommendations to the Dean of Men or Dean of Women, whichever is appropriate. (b) There shall be no punishment by fine. Section 6: Appeals (a) After the council has reached its decision the cases may be ap pealed to the Deans of Men or Women. (b) If the appeal is not revoked by the Deans of Men or Women, the appeal may be taken to the Dean of Students. (c) After the Dean of Students' consideration, appeals may go to the Faculty Discipline Committee, President of the University, and Board of Trustees. These bolies have the right to review the con sideration of any case. Section 7: Procedure (a) In all ac cusa tions and charges, the accused is free to present witnesses and all Informa tion bearing on the case that he wishes to present. (b) The council shall have the power to call all witnesses whose testimony will have a bearing on the case. (c) After all pertinent Informa tion is presented, the council will decide in closed session, its de H ave You Tried Our NIGHTLY SPECIALS? They Are Reasonably Pricedl EATwoa