2008 Woodie Awards
Senators compose new constitution
Elijah Turan
Issue date: 2/13/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
The Student Senate has written a new Constitution at Lorain County Community
College, which it submitted for approval at the beginning of the semester to replace what many have called its hopelessly outdated predecessor.
"The whole thing needed revision," Student Senate Event Coordinator Jessica Breitenbach said. "A lot of things were outdated. And what's the point if it's outdated?"
The Constitution is a broad document which outlines the rights, requirements and
responsibilities of LCCC Student Senate members. Under the document, the Student
Senate is granted the ability to charter clubs and organizations on campus, organize
school events and act as a liaison between the administration and the student body.
The old Constitution, The Constitution of the Student Body, had not been amended since 2001 and required extensive rewriting, according to members of the
Student Senate. Because of the ethical and financial considerations posed by an outdated Constitution, the Student Senate said that they felt a rewriting of the document was an important first step for the new semester.
"The way that the old Constitution was worded," Breitenbach continued, "it could
be interpreted in more than one way. It was very contradictory."
The new document, The Constitution of the Student Senate, has been submitted to
the LCCC administration and legal council for approval. Although school officials were unavailable for comment, Student Senate members said they expect the document to be approved later this month.
Despite the prolonged revision process, Student Senate President Marcus
Madison said he is optimistic about the new Constitution.
"We did a lot of work," Madison said. "Now, we feel that we have a sound Constitution that will serve the student body. It will set a groundwork for future Student
Senate leaders to come, and it gives meaning to what you can and can't do in office."
The Student Senate is updating the election process to fit the new Constitution. According to Senate members, their goal is to have a complete and updated process in place before the Student Senate elections, scheduled for later in the semester.
For more information about the Constitution, the original document is posted in its entirety on LCCC's website at
http://www.lcccstudentlife.com/senate/includes/Constitution-Ver1.pdf.
College, which it submitted for approval at the beginning of the semester to replace what many have called its hopelessly outdated predecessor.
"The whole thing needed revision," Student Senate Event Coordinator Jessica Breitenbach said. "A lot of things were outdated. And what's the point if it's outdated?"
The Constitution is a broad document which outlines the rights, requirements and
responsibilities of LCCC Student Senate members. Under the document, the Student
Senate is granted the ability to charter clubs and organizations on campus, organize
school events and act as a liaison between the administration and the student body.
The old Constitution, The Constitution of the Student Body, had not been amended since 2001 and required extensive rewriting, according to members of the
Student Senate. Because of the ethical and financial considerations posed by an outdated Constitution, the Student Senate said that they felt a rewriting of the document was an important first step for the new semester.
"The way that the old Constitution was worded," Breitenbach continued, "it could
be interpreted in more than one way. It was very contradictory."
The new document, The Constitution of the Student Senate, has been submitted to
the LCCC administration and legal council for approval. Although school officials were unavailable for comment, Student Senate members said they expect the document to be approved later this month.
Despite the prolonged revision process, Student Senate President Marcus
Madison said he is optimistic about the new Constitution.
"We did a lot of work," Madison said. "Now, we feel that we have a sound Constitution that will serve the student body. It will set a groundwork for future Student
Senate leaders to come, and it gives meaning to what you can and can't do in office."
The Student Senate is updating the election process to fit the new Constitution. According to Senate members, their goal is to have a complete and updated process in place before the Student Senate elections, scheduled for later in the semester.
For more information about the Constitution, the original document is posted in its entirety on LCCC's website at
http://www.lcccstudentlife.com/senate/includes/Constitution-Ver1.pdf.
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