FGCU’s Student Government is conducting its elections this week online and in person through Thursday, March 3.
Along with the president and vice president selection and the senators representing each college at the university, there is a category at the end of the virtual ballot regarding the FGCU Student Government constitution.
“Every five years, the FGCU Student Government is required to update the Student Government Constitution,” the webpage states. “Do you accept the proposed changes to the Student Government Constitution? To view the updated Student Government Constitution with the proposed changes, please click here.”
The link takes you to the homepage of the SG site, where you can find the proposed Student Government constitution by clicking the link, which will download the 14-page document including the proposed changes as track changes.
One of the most notable was a change made by Kathleen Leon to Section 1: Student Government Mission of Article I, General Provisions.
The original version read, “Student Government will act as the official voice, through which student opinion may be expressed, thus producing students engaged in both university activities and community affairs.”
The proposed change reads, “Student Government exists as a representative body that promotes the highest ideals of service to the University and student body.”
Eagle News spoke to Julie Gleason, the director of student involvement, after seeing her comments in the review pane of the document.
“I honestly don’t (know why that was changed), and unfortunately, I was not part of the process of it,” Gleason said. “Some of the things we looked for after the changes was just that nothing, like, contradicted itself anywhere or something like that.”
A committee was formed approaching the five-year deadline to change the constitution. Committee members included SG president Thieldens “T” Elneus, SG chief of staff Lee Davidson and legislative chair Jamie Caperton.
Unfortunately, neither Elneus nor Davidson were present at the SG Senate meeting Tuesday, March 1 to discuss the changes being voted on by the student body this week. Elneus did not return two phone calls from Eagle News for comment on Tuesday night.
“Honestly, I wasn’t there for that change, so I don’t want to say anything without having been there,” Caperton said.
The proposed changes are available to download on the SG website.