Senators impeach one of their own

Citing the creation of conflict and mistrust in the Student Senate, nine of 14  senators voted to impeach Liberal Arts Senator Sullivan Jones during Monday night’s General Assembly. 

Four senators voted against impeachment and one abstained. Jones was ineligible to vote.

Senator of EHPCPSW Kelsey Crock said Jones had created a “toxic environment” in the senate, retaliated against senators who had differing opinions and spread misinformation in an opinion  article published in The Eagle Sept. 16 about Senate’s proposed fire pit.

Jones said that he will appeal.    

“I plan on appealing the impeachment because allowing it to continue would set a dangerous precedent of allowing senate to impeach someone simply to silence minority dissent,” he said.

Crock read a prepared statement written by several senators. In it, the group acknowledged Jones has a right to free speech, but said he should be more tactful.

“While Senator Jones is free to express his freedom of speech, he should be held to a higher standard as a senator regarding his comments,” the statement said. “As a representative of the Student Senate, Senator Jones must be held accountable for his actions which have directly impacted the Student Senate. Why talk poorly about Senate when you are a part of it? Are you not through association talking poorly about yourself?” 

Senator at Large Natalie Boyd claimed Jones’ article was misleading for two reasons: the fire pit would not be easily accessible to all students because of its location and he disclosed undecided information about who would operate the fire pit and when it would operate. 

Jones, however, said that this information was strictly his opinion and therefore could not be considered a false or misleading fact.  

“You can’t impeach someone for not liking an idea that was expressed,” he said. “A lot of those things that you suggested were false or misleading were a matter of opinion, that’s the simple truth of it.” 

Jones said that he had no idea the hearing was taking place until prior to Monday’s meeting. He said he believes that Senate’s justification behind his impeachment was not constitutionally valid and that it was using personal attacks on his reputation to impeach him. 

However, throughout the hearing, senators repeatedly said the reason for the petition to remove Jones was not because he had conflicting views and voiced his opinions, but because he was creating mistrust between the Student Senate and the student body and portraying Student Senate in a negative light. 

Student Senate bylaws state that  a representative can be removed because of “indications of improprieties in fulfilling official responsibilities.” The Oxford dictionary defines improprieties as failures to observe standards, the use of improper language; bad behavior or character.

“Sully brought up and quoted the constitution about how impropriety is something that can be brought up and we talked about that, impropriety, unprofessionalism, disrespect,” Boyd said. “I understand that Sully wants to represent his constituents, and I think he’s a very passionate person who represents his constituents. However, it’s not his opinions that are the problem, it’s the manner in which he does it.

“You can’t possibly represent your constituents if you’re creating a terrible working relationship with the people you’re trying to work with to make campus a better place. You have to maintain those relationships, and if you’re out confronting senators in an intimidating manner outside of meetings, then their voice isn’t heard, so you’re silencing a portion of campus through that.” 

However, Boyd and three other senators – Bryan Zutavern, Aidan Anderson-McClintock and Emmanuella Tchona – voted against impeaching Jones.  

Nine senators – Olivia Bryant, Isna Patel, Megan Hodgeson, Kelsey Crock, Sarah Hough, Cooper Reichman, Mckenna Juhlin, Chioma Asielue and Hannah Pfiefly – voted to impeach Jones. 

Senator Mackenna Metzler abstained, citing personal conflicts of interests.