Deasy, Stevens win USG elections

Following two days of voting on April 14 and 18, Ryan Deasy has been named United Student Government (USG) president for the 2009-2010 school year, defeating his opponent, Joe Adams, by more than 150 votes. Sidnie Stevens was selected as Deasy's vice president after defeating Jana McLeod by less than 20 votes.

Additionally, USG announced plans to re-vote this week on an open meeting by-law in a second attempt to close the loophole in their constitution that allows student-funded clubs to make decisions in private.

Previously, USG voted against a proposed by-law stating, "All meetings held by student organizations must be open to the entire student body."

The new proposal planned for a senate vote at the April 24 legislative body meeting would extend the same policy on meetings that USG operates under to student clubs.

"I do not see anything in club meetings that would need to remain hidden," said current USG President Carl Zappa III said during the April 17 legislative body meeting.

Currently by-laws applying only to USG state that, "It is the right of the public to be present at all USG meetings." Also under the by-laws, a meeting can only be closed if it would violate "federal or state laws or the rights of a particular person."

The USG Rules Committee also met last Friday and discussed the second proposal that would extend these existing by-laws to all student clubs. USG Athletic Representative Ezekiel O'Donnell said USG will contact clubs to see how student club members feel about it before voting.

Current Parliamentarian Deasy, who is also a member of the Rules Committee, said the student government will contact clubs to make sure they are aware of what is being voted on.

During the previous failed vote on the issue, members said they were concerned that clubs did not know about the proposal.

"It is so we are not pulling a fast one on them," Deasy said.

He also said that the club members' feelings will not affect the vote taking place, unless every club is against it.

"If it passes, it does not matter how they [clubs] feel about it; it will be what it is," Zappa said.

Along with the re-vote on an open meeting by-law for clubs, USG also plans to have elected candidates sworn into their positions. A by-law approved by members several weeks ago requires that candidates elected in the spring semester be put into office by the close of the semester.

Members also approved $5,250 in funding for student clubs. The Dance Club received $3,000 to pay for the remaining cost of an end-of-the-year banquet that is open to all students. John P. Harris Society received $2,250 to help cover the cost of a 24-hour film festival.

The controversial resolution to raise USG officer stipends was also voted on later in the week but did not receive the three-fourths majority it needed to be put into effect.