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News

Filing deadline extended

Meeting focuses on textbook proposal, sets new election schedule

by JEB SCHNEIDER
The Daily Cougar 

The Student Government Association Senate extended on Wednesday the filing deadline to run for SGA Senate seats to 5 p.m. Tuesday. The extension comes in response to the election commissioners' concern that students were unaware of Wednesday's deadline.

The Senate voted unanimously to extend the deadline for candidates to file for the spring election. 

Election Commissioner Glory Ngwolo said the extension is needed to allow for the election commission to advertise the election since the commissioners have only met once after adding two new members at the Feb. 1 SGA meeting.

Ngwolo said the election is poorly organized and in disarray. She also said the additional time will help eliminate the impression of collusion and cronyism by the candidates who are currently running unopposed.

Ngwolo reminded the SGA of its charter and responsibility to represent the student body fairly and that, in the opinion of the members of the election commission, students may not be aware the election is even occuring.

"If the people who had picked the commissioners were more organized, this extension would not be necessary," Ngwolo said.

Students interested in running for office are asked to pick up applications in the SGA offices located in the UC Underground.

The revised calendar also moves the candidate seminar to March 1, at a time and place to be determined. It was originally scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 29 in the Carribean Room.

SGA President David Williams said that this is a clerical correction since 2006 is not a leap year.

In other business, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Sen. David Rosen took note of the Faculty Senate's failure to act on the textbook proposal that requires faculty to donate a portion of the earnings from their books to campus organizations or departments. "Its important for the Faculty Senate to understand that if they don't offer something for the students then the SGA will," Rosen said, receiving Williams' support.

"The Faculty (Senate) is focusing too much on the textbook issue and not enough on the materials printed by faculty and used for a single section or class in a given semester," Williams said.

"I take issue with professors printing perforated materials and telling students they cannot get grades unless the materials are submitted with holes on the paper," said Williams. "And then driving around in Corvettes that you know they can't afford any other way."

SGA Vice President Francisco Zelaya said that some professors deliberately circumvent UH policy by not submitting required materials lists for classes that might draw the provost's attention.

"I am tired of some professors … turning in materials lists two weeks after the semester starts and then students are unable to get the items in the bookstore and are forced to pay for the professor's created handouts," Zelaya said.
 

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