After General Representative Sanobar Sajan’s recent resignation from the Undergraduate Student Association Council, the current councilmembers decided on Tuesday to find a qualified student to fill her vacant position.
Sajan resigned on Sunday after admitting responsibility for eight fraudulent e-mails requesting almost $36,000.
President Gabe Rose will oversee the application process and present his nomination to the council. On Jan. 22, the council will vote to decide the new councilmember.
By appointing a candidate to office, the council will have the ability to rearrange political slate power on council.
Currently eight Bruins United, one Students First!, and three independent representatives sit at the council table.
If the Bruins United council majority approves a student from its student government political party, their decision will result in a Bruins United super majority and the nine Bruins United councilmembers will gain a little over two-thirds voting power. The admittance of a Bruins United student would allow the super majority to pass legislation including bylaw changes and could enable the slate to enact long-standing goals that might include changing USAC’s structure to a student senate.
Campus Events Commissioner Colin Iberti, an independent councilmember, said he is aware of a possible greater Bruins United majority.
“The three independents do not have say either way, but with nine votes, Bruins United will be able to pass everything,” said Iberti.
According to the student government constitution, the vacant position will be filled by presidential appointment, which must be decided within 21 days after the council has been notified of the resignation.
Certain councilmembers voiced approval of Sajan’s resignation. General Representative Michelle Lyon said she found the resignation fitting because Sajan broke the trust of students who pay fees.
“Regardless how high of a position you have, you need to take the responsibility,” Lyon said.
Iberti said that the resignation was the right decision for Sajan to make, but he added that students should treat it as an isolated incident.
“We are working for students. We want to regain their faith, but I think we have to move on,” Iberti said.
During Tuesday’s USAC meeting, Rose said the application will be open to all undergraduate students who are interested, academically eligible and able to make the commitment.
Rose said to the council that they should submit the names of students they might recommend for the position so he can forward them applications. Rose will also post the application on the USAC Web site.
The council is giving a week for students to submit the application. Then, during the second week of winter quarter, Rose will conduct interviews and pick a nominee. The council will approve a nominee by Tuesday of third week.
Iberti said the entire undergraduate student body is encouraged to participate in the application process.
“I do hope that we get a lot of student involvement, either by a lot of applications or students coming to meetings and voicing their opinions,” Iberti said.
Some councilmembers share different opinions on the potential slate issue during the general representative application and approval process.
Iberti said that the process of a presidential appointment seems fair, but Rose may forward a student who aligns with Bruins United.
“In general, Gabe does a good job of forwarding people, but he may appoint someone who is ideologically aligned with him. We, as a council, will have a good discussion on it,” Iberti said.
Greg Cendana, who ran for the office of president from the Students First! last year, said that slates should not be an issue in choosing a general representative.
“I hope that through a transparent and holistic process, the most qualified candidate will be selected,” Cendana said.
Cendana said on Wednesday that he had looked at the general representative application, but he had not decided yet if he will apply.
Lyon from Bruins United said that she will emphasize the applicant’s merits rather than the applicant’s slate position.
“I will look very critically at the choice Gabe makes,” Lyon said. “The person who will be chosen will be right for the position.”
Cultural Affairs Commissioner Bernice Shaw, currently the only Students First! councilmember, said that the issue of a Bruins United super majority will probably exist.
“Obviously (Bruins United) has the majority and it will play a little bit in the public’s eye,” Shaw said. “If Gabe forwards a person that I think is unqualified or a disservice to the students, that will not bode well with me.”
Lyon said that the new general representative’s political stance will not necessarily affect the relationship between the two political slates.
“I do not see a change. Things will mostly stay the same,” Lyon said.
Iberti said that, though Bruins United had a majority before Sajan’s resignation, a nomination from this slate would still give them an additional advantage.
“It is a very precarious and powerful situation for them,” Iberti said.