by Vivian Luu
Editor-in-Chief

Although members of the Student Body Association (SBA) stated that their most recent election did not allow for a new student constitution to pass, they have changed their decision.

Out of the 417 students who participated in the election held nearly two weeks ago, 395 voted in favor of passing the new student constitution. But because less than seven percent of the student body voted, the SBA revoked the new constitution.

This decision was made based on Article 19, Section 1 of the new student constitution, which says that the constitution can only be approved if at least 7 percent of the student population votes.

Members of the SBA now suggest that evaluating the election results with the new constitution was “invalid” and “unethical” since it contradicted policies that were instituted in the old constitution.

The new constitution would not be effective until July 1 for Fall Quarter 2008 if it passed. Until then, any decisions on SBA election results—including this most recent election—must follow protocol that was established by the old constitution.

Under the jurisdiction of the old student constitution, the new constitution is legitimate because the majority of the students who participated in the recent election voted in favor of passing it.

In response to multiple interpretations of the election results, SBA Vice- President Jessica Puckett said: “We (the SBA) are all acknowledging that we were in error by adding [Article 19, Section 1] to the new constitution.”

When asked why the student government initially restricted their decision with the new constitution, SBA President Ivanhoe said: “We wanted to hold ourselves to the same expectations of future student body leaders.”

Ivanhoe met with the SCC Board of Trustees last week and discussed whether or not the election results needed to be held in context to the old or new constitution. The following day, the SBA Executive Board served a veto to the Student Senate, which did not acknowledge the new constitution after the election. It emphasized that the constitution passed in the election.

“At this point, the election results have not been officially recognized by the student body,” Ivanhoe said on March 12. He explained that while the new constitution has not been passed, it has been “not rejected.”

However, SBA Vice President Jessica Puckett disagreed. “We can’t abide by what’s stated in the [new] constitution,” she said, referring to the required seven percent student participation to legitimize election results. “What is said doesn’t effect the election results, so the [new] constitution did pass in the election.”

The SBA is now waiting to hear from Washington Assistant Attorney General Alan Smith for his counsel regarding the new constitution’s validity.

“I suggested that depending on the language of the old constitution, the new constitution may have passed,” said Smith. “I haven’t, however, reached a conclusion yet. I can only give legal advice to the college, and [the SBA] must ultimately make their decisions.”