Elections bill veto
PATRONIZE KANSAN ADVERTISERS
Martin explains decision
By RUTH ROHRER
Al Martin, Shawnee Mission junior and student body president, explained his reasons for vetoing the elections bill at the All Student Council (ASC) meeting Tuesday night.
The elections bill, passed Nov. 29 at the last meeting of the old council before newly-elected members were sworn in, has been hotly debated and has suffered through many committee sessions and revisions.
"It is the prerogative and responsibility of the student body president to veto a bill if it will not be in the best interests of the students," Martin said.
WHILE I RECOGNIZE the merit of several of the changes incorporated within this amendment, there are others which are highly undesirable," he said.
His objections to the bill are:
- Chapter 1, Section 8A: "The annual general fall elections shall be held on the fourth or fifth Wednesday and Thursday of the fall semester."
Freshman class officers and representatives from living districts are elected at that time. Martin said this change is undesirable because elections would occur immediately before six-weeks exams. He feels that this would greatly limit the time the candidates would have to campaign; and that any successful candidate who received poor
grades might blame the campaign and consequently refrain from devoting sufficient time to ASC duties.
Chapter 5, Section 4: "Vacancies occurring in the ASC, caused by ineligibility, withdrawal from school, resignation, or any other reason...shall remain until the next general election."
MARTIN SAID, "I doubt if this provision would make candidates or council members take their responsibilities more seriously, as was intended. Indeed, it could very likely impair the efficiency of the ASC, for some of the best council members were originally appointed to fill vacancies."
- Chapter 2, Section 8: "All candidates must attend an instructional meeting held by the elections committee on the day following the deadline for nominations"
Martin disagreed with the section because "its intent is ambiguous," and any person charged with violating this provision must be tried before the Student Court and subject to a $10 to $100 fine. Some of its major provisions are the replacement of the Hare system of preferential balloting and a requirement that anyone wishing to run for an ASC seat to have a petition signed by 10 per cent of the number that
voted from his district in the previous election.
The elections bill may go into effect over Martin's veto if it is re-passed by two-thirds of the council. The bill was passed Nov. 29 by a very small majority.
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Daily Kansan Friday, January 13, 1967
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