By: Ryan Fitzgerald
Posted In: News
Photo credit: SRU Student Government Association
At its Feb. 12 meeting in the Wakehurst Student Center, the Student Government Association discussed the issue of Facebook and MySpace and how candidates use those websites during campaigns.
During the meeting, there was a motion to remove one of the amendments, which states that “Individual campaign websites [Facebook/myspace] cannot be used for individual campaigning but only to advertise the election itself.” The decision will most likely be made in two weeks upon further investigation. Most of the controversy over changing this amendment concerns how to patrol the slandering of other candidates running for student offices during the campaign. According to what was addressed at the meeting, it has been proposed because of the willingness of the government to have different ways of campaigning for office rather than just using posters. However, some senators sympathize with security issues and how they would be able to maintain order without other candidates being slandered. “I think we should not include it because of a lot of problems and it’s hard to keep up maintenance,” said Jessica Pezzone, junior Salve Regina Student Government Senator. Another debate was on the issue of the Mr. Salve contest. First, the senators discussed the issue of how to perform the voting procedures and the structure of the event. Then the senators debated over having a Ms. Salve contest, but much of the problem was on the issue of it becoming a beauty pageant. However, most of the senators agreed that this will bring in more money because of the female population at Salve. “I think it could be a good idea and we can possibly raise a lot of money if we get good campus involvement. I think students need to realize the funds are going to victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and I encourage their involvement,” said Senator Chris Whynock. The Student Government also changed three amendments of the Constitution of Salve, which were based on grammatical errors and moved to change the Tenth Amendment in the Salve Constitution but did not come to a final conclusion. The change would allow all Salve clubs and organizations to collaborate together for future projects.
