Saint Mary's Board of Governance met Monday to discuss the petition from the student presidential ticket not allowed to run.Overall, 302 signatures were on the petition from junior Katherine Kelly and freshman Lauren McCalister, who student officials ruled could not run for office because they did not declare their ticket by the deadline. Officials had not yet determined which signatures were from students. Elections commissioner Anna Bauer said the elections appeal committee upheld the decision of the elections committee not to permit the ticket to run, but she expressed concern with the current Student Government Association Constitution, which is new this year."I would propose that we form another Constitution Committee to look at these issues," Bauer said. "When you get it tested, you find weakness in it."Bauer suggested looking at the exact wording of certain issues regarding election policies. "Things need to be a little more clear cut for us," Bauer said. The BOG eventually decided a committee should review the constitution, and the possibility of setting up a form of education for the student body on the work involved with BOG should also be considered. Because only two months remain in the current BOG's term, members voted 15-4 to pass this responsibility on to the next administration.Members also continued planning for a tsunami relief fund. "Our leadership on this campus is evident and if we can get pumped up about [donating], everyone can," Student Body President Sarah Catherine White said. The BOG plans to hold a collection campaign for the entire month of February with the theme of "Show Your Love." Members decided to place red collection bins in several spots on campus, including dorms, the bookstore, Dalloway's and Madeleva Hall.BOG members also opted to collect donations door to door, following their meeting next week. Students who donate during this time will receive a red heart with their name on it to place on their door.The board voted to send all of the profits to one organization, the Salesian Fathers, who have institutions in several areas in India that were affected by the tsunami and focus their efforts on helping to raise and educate children.
In other BOG news:u Senior Meghan Scallen, a public relations intern for the College Football Hall of Fame, spoke to the BOG about working to promote activities the Hall of Fame will sponsor.Student Activities Board will sponsor "Write the Troops," Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Dalloways and will continue to sponsor the event every month for the rest of the academic year.
