Dr. Carl H. Smith - Kentucky State University

Thorobred News Thursday, April 16th, 2009 Page 3Editor’s OpinionStudents Successfully ChallengeSGA BylawsThorobred News Endorses Walker for SGAThe 2009 student government election wasoriginally scheduled for April 6. It came asa surprise to many when election officialsdecided to postpone campaign week and thesubsequent election. Why? Was this movedesigned to provide ample time for contestantsto prepare for the Mr. and Miss KSU Pageant?Or was it designed to take people off the ballot?The perplexing truth about the election’s delayis that the committee was caught in a quandarywhen they were challenged by contestants whowere once deemed ineligible.On March 20, the SGA’s Election Committeeissued letters to interested candidates in regardto their eligibility for candidacy. One suchstudent, Shanelle Walker, a junior from ChicagoKentucky State UniversityStudent Government Association2009-2010 Candidates(listed alphabetically)PresidentCharles JacksonShanelle WalkerFirst Vice PresidentVincent BradfordMichael FullerSecond Vice PresidentTaQuay HairstonTerrell PrattRobert WilsonSecretaryLe’Artis AllenDavida BraxtonAynna ParrKendra RandleTreasurerDemetrius RobertsonKendra RobinsonChief JusticeSherman SparrowVictoria VaughnMiss Kentucky State UniversityErika HarrellShaMarla JonesElisabeth MartinKeisha MinleyMr. Kentucky State UniversityPatrick LawrenceBrandon LewisSean NicholsJahshae Stewartseeking the office of SGA President, received aletter stating that she did not have the necessarycredentials to run. Despite Walker’s notable“contributions to our beloved campus,” she didnot meet the election committee’s standards forexperience. In a meeting held later that weekfor all students who “met the requirements,”Election Committee Chair Roxlauna Brownannounced that the candidates need to bethankful because “a lot of you really didn’thave the criteria to run.”According to the Article XII, Section 1a of thestudent handbook, a person seeking the officeof SGA President, must have “a minimumscholastic average 2.5 cumulative G.P.A., afull-time undergraduate student who has paidhis/her student activity fees to the Universityeach semester of enrollment, a minimum of 60completed semester hours upon declaration andmust have a clear conduct record. Must havebeen previously associated with the KentuckyState University SGA as an officer, senator, orand have served as an officer in a recognizedorganization. A minimum of two completedsemesters of enrollment at Kentucky StateUniversity.”Walker argued she has served as an officer inStudents in Free Enterprise (SIFE) which is a“recognized organization” and this year wasnamed interim president to help rebuild theorganization. Her contributions also include herinvolvement on the Homecoming Committeeand volunteering to host events for severalcampus organizations. Walker gathered over800 signatures from students who wanted herincluded on the ballot.The problem was in the apparently randomway a person was identified as having servedas an officer in a recognized organization. As aresult, administrators presented the committeewith an ultimatum: either remove all ineligiblecandidates from the ballot, or put otherMondayApril 27th, 2009SGA Elections for2009-2010candidates, Shanelle Walker in particular, on it.Interestingly enough, they opted to remove amajority of the candidates rather than simplyadd Walker.After such a statement and action, one iscompelled to question the willingness of thecommittee to ensure all students at least have achance to serve their institution. Does it have apersonal issue with Walker or other candidates?Is this an effort to implement some sort of bias?Brown and the rest of the election committeefelt obligated to enforce the rules—or at least thecommittee’s interpretation of the rules—as theysaw it. Oddly enough, the committee’s decisionwas overruled by University officials andBrown resigned from her position as ElectionCommittee Chair. Freshman Orlando Carterhas assumed the chairman duties. In addition,the necessary SGA officials voted to amend therequirements forstudent candidacyin the Constitutioni m m e d i a t e l y .Brown andthe electioncommittee shouldbe commendedfor following therule of law as theyunderstood it.Likewise, Walkershould also becommended fortaking a bold stepby challenging thelaw.Before Walker wasadded to the ballot,Charles Jackson,the current SGA 2 ndThe KSU Thorobred News is offering advertisement space to Universityaffiliated organizations and events with a 15% discount! All non-profit orevents/programs that donates its proceeds to charitable causes are FREE!!*Please Contact the Thorobred News Staff for more Details!Men’s ClothingYOUR AD HERECustom Logos Embroidery Screen Printing********W&W Men’sClothing“ Central Kentucky’sClothier”William Morton Sr. ~ Clothier228 West Main Frankort, KY 40601Vice President, was the sole candidate. Thereshould never be a shoo-in candidate for anyposition, let alone the top student leader oncampus. It’s the opinion of Thorobred Newsthat Shanelle Walker did a great service to thestudent body by successfully challenging theinterpretation of a law. If she had not takenthe lead to challenge the system, many of thecandidates who are now running for officewould not have had the chance. Walker hasproven that she will fight for what she thinksis right not only for herself, but for the studentbody; as she puts it, “I am doing this to give thestudents a choice, not for personal gain.” This isthe kind of voice we need in the student senateand on the board of regents. Therefore, weofficially endorse Shanelle Walker for presidentof the Student Government Association.Thorobred NewsThe Student Voice of Kentucky State UniversityEditorial & Design StaffEditor-in-ChiefNews EditorFeatures EditorSports EditorPhoto EditorCopy EditorAdvertising ManagerJessica JohnsonSepricia WhiteShaMarla JonesCornell FerrillVincent BradfordAshley DavisAnastasia HillCarl M. Hill Student CenterNews Room 350(502) 597-7377Faculty Adviser: David ShabazzEditorial PolicyThe Thorobred News is the campus source for news and information at KentuckyState University. The student-run newspaper is normally published everyother Wednesday during the Fall and Spring semesters.We welcomes reader feedback, columns, letters to the editors and news tips.Send them to thorobrednews@kysu.edu. Submissions should include the author’sname and contact information and should not exceed 600 words. Theopinions and views of the Thorobred News do not necessarily reflect thoseof the University. The newspaper content and design is the work of thestudents.