Senate confirms four new senators

By: Vincent Fernandez / Staff Writer

Through heated debate and many candidates, the Student Government Association at Modesto Maidique Campus found and confirmed four candidates on Sept. 20 to fill empty senate chairs for the College of Business, College of Architecture and the Arts, College of Education and College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Among the four, the most highly contested senate seat was the College of Business Administration. After being voted on twice, it came down to Nick Autiello, SGC-MMC vice president, who cast the tie-breaking vote which had international business major Matthew Mockridge coming out victorious.

“I am very proud to say all candidates were superbly qualified, and the selection was very competitive, particularly for the seat for the College of Business Administration. Seven candidates in total applied for that one Business position,” said Senate Speaker William-Jose Velez.

Physical education major, Samir Patel, was the next person to be confirmed as the SGA College of Education senator.  The SGA College of Architecture and The Arts senate seat went to theatre major Odette Barrientos, who was second to be confirmed.

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences SGA senate seat was the least contested of all the positions, with only one candidate nominated for the position. Nursing major Nicole Petival was selected for the position.

“Based on their platforms, presentations and answers – I see them proactively beginning to work on their college issues, with specific proposals to address problems like fingerprinting in the College of Education or communication in the College of Business Administration,” said Velez.

Carlos Rodriguez, SGA Housing Senator, is very excited to work with the new senators in the coming year.

“Although they are entering in the middle of the fall term, I am sure that they are qualified to go head first into their work,” Rodriguez said.

Aside from the senate confirmations, a new ad hoc committee to establish political parties’ regulations was established with a 20-0-0 vote.

According to the Memorandum released on Sept. 22, the committee “will not establish political parties at FIU.”

The purpose of this committee in accordance with section two of SR 1045 “shall be to analyze the current Elections Code and determine the appropriate regulations for political parties within the Student Government Council at Modesto A. Maidique Campus, given the fact that there are currently no regulations regarding groups or parties and their effect in the SGA Elections, based on the Mujica vs. Student Election Board case of 2010.”

Essentially, the committee is being formed to investigate certain regulations that, if it ever were to occur, would constitutionally keep the parties at bay.

According to the memorandum, SR 1045 will accomplish is to make recommendations to the Senate as to how political parties should be regulated, should they emerge during elections in the spring 2010 semester.

Senate Speaker William Jose Velez and Vice-President Nick Autiello, who will be a non-voting member of the committee, will head this committee.

The final members of this committee will be confirmed on next Monday’s senate meeting.

“I have already received notifications of interest from senators who wish to take part in the committee, and help conduct research. I see the mandate in the bill as a first step towards ensuring a fair elections process,” said Velez.

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