SAC GA votes on Judicial Board
By Ishai Mooreville · The Johns Hopkins News-Letter · December 6, 2001
The Student Activities Commission (SAC) General Assembly (GA) met on Tuesday and voted to pass an amendment to the student constitution that will allow for SAC conflicts to be resolved by a Judicial Committee comprised of students. The amendment was primarily composed and created by Student Council Treasurer and SAC Chairman Noel de Santos.
"This is the ideal of self-governance. SAC groups are mature enough to handle finances and organize events. Many don't have advisors like at other schools, they do things for themselves. If they can do those things, they can do this also," said de Santos.
The committee was formed to handle disputes that may arise because of funding arguments between groups or mismanagement within a certain student group. These disputes were formerly handled by the administration and these new changes will make students responsible for hearing and solving arguments rather than other external authoritative figures.
"We're putting a capstone on our independence," said de Santos.
In case of a dispute between two SAC groups, two leaders from each group will first meet with the SAC chairman and the director of student involvement.
If no resolution can be decided upon, there will then be a call to convene the Judicial Committee. Each side will select two representatives for the case who will submit witness lists and any evidence they feel is pertinent. Within two days after the hearing, four of the judicial members will vote on a resolution, with the majority winning. If there is a tie, the SAC Chairman, who is the fifth member of this board, will vote to break it.
The committee will be composed of one representative from Student Council, currently De Santos, one member of the SAC executive board, which has yet to be announced, and one member of the administration, at present Dr. William Smedick. Smedick is the Director of Student Involvement. The SAC General Assembly will have two representatives in the committee who will be elected at the next meeting in February.
"The SAC General Assembly should have the most say because they have the most representation. At the same time, not one constituent group could monopolize the decision of the board," said de Santos.
So far, the nominees to represent the SAC are sophomore Jeff Chang, junior Tiffany Cohen, junior Yaa Kumah, sophomore Amanda Johnson, freshman Kestrel Linder, junior Ivan Putziger, sophomore Ali Saleem and junior Aidan Smith. The top two vote getters will be elected representatives and the next three will be designated as alternates. Those who are elected will be trained on what it means to be a Judicial Committee member. They will also learn how to conduct a hearing fairly and impartially and what types of questions to ask.
De Santos jump started the issue when he drafted a proposal which with he was aided by Smedick. It was first presented to and approved by the Student Council. It was then brought before the SAC assembly, where it was approved as well. Now that the amendment has passed both of these hurdles, it will go on to the administration and their legal counsel for final approval, which de Santos believes is highly probable.
"This is a great step forward and the administration has been very helpful. I see a lot of enthusiasm for this," said de Santos. "I have full confidence that this will pass, and I have already spoken to them about this issue."
De Santos is very satisfied with the changes.
"This continues the university tradition of student independence," he said.
The SAC also announced they would be setting up two new posting boards on the breezeway between the engineering and Gilman Quads. In addition, they have started publishing a new bimonthly news letter called Kinex that will serve as a forum between student groups and the student body. Scheduling Coordinator Pat Forster also spoke at the meeting regarding scheduling week for group room assignments, which must be made through her office.