The Student Government Association has adopted new amendments to its ethics bill that outline minor and major violations that will result in specific sanctions if committed by SGA members.
SGA Attorney General Ashley Vickers said the ethics bill, which was added to the Code of Laws during the 2011-2012 academic year, lacked effectiveness and wasn’t enforceable because the original language lacked specifics.
“What we kind of saw a need to do in my office and throughout SGA is create specifics for our ethical expectations rather than just stating ‘you should be ethical,’” she said.
According to the bill, which was authored by Vickers, the new amendments define “minor” and “major” violations. Minor violations include “MIP [minor in possession], MIC [minor in consumption], MIL [minor in lounge], Possession of a Fake ID, Academic Misconduct, or any action which is unbecoming of a member of the SGA.”
SGA members who commit minor violations will be required to complete 10 hours of community service in addition to hours required by University, local or federal laws. Minor violators will not be in danger of expulsion, suspension, barring from future office or suspension of pay, according to the bill.
Major violations include “DUI, Public Intoxication, possession of any illegal drugs, assault, theft, or any action which irreparably harms the image, mission, or success of the SGA.”
Under a major violation, SGA members would be subject to minimum sanctions including 20 community service hours and disqualification for any end-of-the-year awards or accolades. Violators could also face suspension or expulsion from office, withholding of pay, removal of parking privileges or permanent expulsion from SGA.
Vickers said including these specifics in the bill would benefit SGA members and UA students.
“This is kind of a safeguard for the SGA for years to come and also holds us to a higher standard, rather than just adding fluff to the document,” she said. “That’s what I wanted to do, to give this some teeth and make ourselves accountable to students.”
Members will sign a waiver stating that if they are referred to judicial affairs for any violation, judicial affairs then has the right to inform the SGA adviser who will then notify the attorney general.
When SGA members’ violations are brought to light, they will undergo a hearing procedure that is also outlined in the new bill. Vickers said she worked with the UA Legal Office and the Office of Judicial Affairs to outline the hearing process.
Seven justices from the Judicial Board are selected at random to hear members’ cases.
Chief Justice of the Judicial Branch Joe Hart said the new bill was necessary to provide clear-cut definitions of expectations.
“We didn’t have the best accountability measures to where, even if someone did commit a major violation, we didn’t have any way to do anything about it,” he said. “And that protects the members, because it defines a standard of behavior that we expect out of them. If members do commit these violations, then we can hold them accountable.”
