2008 Woodie Awards
SG loses second vice president of year
Sean J. Jordan
Issue date: 8/21/07 Section: News
Andrew Spainhour accepted the position of student body vice president when vice president-elect Brandon Rardin resigned last spring.
But Spainhour had no idea that he would be removed from the position himself midway through the summer.
"The vice president, Andrew Spainhour, had to step down from his position as vice president for not meeting some of the specified conditions within the Student Government constitution," explained Kimmel Leadership Center Director and Student Government Adviser Steve Sperotto.
Spainhour was not simply filling a role in Student Government; he had accepted a paid position with many responsibilities. As vice president, Spainhour was relied upon to enforce the Student Government constitution and bylaws. He was also in charge of chairing the Student Senate meetings, among other duties.
But since Spainhour missed two consecutive Student Government Executive Board meetings, the constitution required his immediate removal from office.
"The rule written in the Student Government constitution says that even if I'm not enrolled in classes for the summer session, I'm still supposed to effectively continue all my duties," Spainhour said. This posed a problem for Spainhour, who had accepted the position of vice president late in the spring semester after he had already made plans to spend his summer working in his hometown, Greenville.
"Unfortunately, I only found about this rule at the first summer Senate meeting. I showed up, and (Student Body President) Laurie (Estilette) and I had a conversation, and she informed me that she didn't know about the rule either. Jesse Phelps, the former student trustee, had asked where I was at the executive board meeting and pointed out the rule to her."
"Before I actually knew about the rule, I had taken on a position at a landscaping company in my hometown," Spainhour said. He noted that he spoke to his employer about time off for some of his Student Government obligations, but was not willing to ask for the time off needed to fulfill his required 12 weekly office hours or to be present at each executive board meeting.
But Spainhour had no idea that he would be removed from the position himself midway through the summer.
"The vice president, Andrew Spainhour, had to step down from his position as vice president for not meeting some of the specified conditions within the Student Government constitution," explained Kimmel Leadership Center Director and Student Government Adviser Steve Sperotto.
Spainhour was not simply filling a role in Student Government; he had accepted a paid position with many responsibilities. As vice president, Spainhour was relied upon to enforce the Student Government constitution and bylaws. He was also in charge of chairing the Student Senate meetings, among other duties.
But since Spainhour missed two consecutive Student Government Executive Board meetings, the constitution required his immediate removal from office.
"The rule written in the Student Government constitution says that even if I'm not enrolled in classes for the summer session, I'm still supposed to effectively continue all my duties," Spainhour said. This posed a problem for Spainhour, who had accepted the position of vice president late in the spring semester after he had already made plans to spend his summer working in his hometown, Greenville.
"Unfortunately, I only found about this rule at the first summer Senate meeting. I showed up, and (Student Body President) Laurie (Estilette) and I had a conversation, and she informed me that she didn't know about the rule either. Jesse Phelps, the former student trustee, had asked where I was at the executive board meeting and pointed out the rule to her."
"Before I actually knew about the rule, I had taken on a position at a landscaping company in my hometown," Spainhour said. He noted that he spoke to his employer about time off for some of his Student Government obligations, but was not willing to ask for the time off needed to fulfill his required 12 weekly office hours or to be present at each executive board meeting.
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