SGA meeting raises Morriss questions

The Student Government Association held a meeting in the Pride Room of the Sam Rayburn Student Center from 6 p.m. to about 6:30 p.m. Topics discussed included challenging the proposed tuition increase, the current situation involving the theft of editions of The East Texan, and the theme for SGA's involvement with Relay for Life.

Senator Adam Sparks said it would not be appropriate for SGA to assume anything about the thefts, as the investigation is ongoing.

"We cannot assume all football players are criminals," Sparks said. "It's under investigation."

Senator Brittany Edwards then suggested SGA take action against the athletic referendum, which was passed last fall and is designed to give the athletic department its own funding.

"We need to reduce it or take it away," she said. "I know it's for everyone, all of the athletic department, but I know they get a huge chunk. Since they get so much, and they are getting most of the money, they're going to have to reduce it or do something. I was trying to bring that up to all of us."

SGA President Michelle Tolbert disagreed, and said it would be wrong to do anything about the athletic referendum, as it is not just used by the football program.

"That's something that goes to the entire athletic department," Tolbert said. "You can't try to take that away just because one group might have done something inappropriate. That's going to other organizations that are a part of the athletic department, so why would you want to take that away just because one group might have made a mistake?"

Senator Adam Haney suggested to the members of SGA that the organization release a statement on the comments made by head coach Guy Morriss, which are making national media headlines. He motioned that this statement be decided and voted upon at the meeting, but Tolbert shot him down.

"We're not going to vote on that at this moment," Tolbert said immediately after Haney suggested the motion. "What we're going to vote on, I need to discuss with the appropriate people."

Haney said he does not agree with how Tolbert handled the situation. He said he felt Tolbert was out of order.

"I think that's completely inappropriate and not in keeping with parliamentary procedure," Haney said.

Tolbert later explained her actions, explaining this was not a typical situation SGA was dealing with.

"I did that because this is something that's bigger than just in a student government meeting," she said. "When I said I needed to speak with the appropriate people, I am not referring to administration or anything."

Tolbert also insisted she was not operating outside of parliamentary procedure.

"I made the statement to not follow through with it before it was seconded," she said. "Since there was no second on the motion, I was within parliamentary procedure."

In a video of the SGA meeting submitted to The East Texan, after Haney moved to vote on an SGA statement in regards to Morriss' comments, the man next to him says "I second that."

Upon being contacted about the video, Tolbert said she would have to see it first before making any comment.

She went on to clarify "appropriate people" refers to her executive board, which includes vice presidents Sharin Vora and Farha Habeeb. Tolbert also said she understands where Haney is coming from.

"I can understand how he might feel that way, but I know I need to sit down with my executive board and make this decision and then we bring it to the body and vote upon it," she said.

Tolbert explained consulting her executive board meant talking with her vice presidents about how to best approach the situation based on what they know has occurred. After this, they would then present this to the senators who would give input and vote on a final decision. She also said this executive decision-making could involve gaining student input.

"I didn't feel it was appropriate prior to research," Tolbert said. "Student government is the voice of the student body, not just those people in the room. [Senators] are capable of good decisions, but this is something that needs to be taken seriously."

Haney said he still believes SGA has a duty to fulfill when it comes to the comments made by Morriss.

"The two issues I see are separate," he said. "The ongoing investigation we may comment on in the future, but we don't know. As far as the statements that were made in the paper, I do think it is the responsibility of student government to speak out and condemn those statements."