James Beauchaine, senator at-large, and Lucy Anne Link, senator at-large presented changes to the SGA Code of Laws to the senate, on Nov. 15.
The primary concern was with the wording of certain articles within a section in the Code of Laws.
They debated whether voting should be based on your primary college or allow representation in two colleges for those students with double majors.
Drake Pooley, business senator, said he is enrolled in two colleges himself and wants to further discuss the issue.
“This is a conversation that needs to be had on the floor regardless,” Pooley said. “Obviously I have invested interest in this since I have a major in the College of Business and the College of Liberal Arts and there are many students on Auburns campus that are in this situation.”
Hunter Gibson, senator at-large, disagreed with Pooley and believes you should only be able to represent and vote in your primary college.
“Even though you may have multiple degrees and you may have to complete all the hours in each college, the University still recognizes you in one college as your primary school or college and that is the school or college that you graduate in,” Gibson said. “If you have your primary degree in liberal arts and you also have a business degree, you graduate with liberal arts.”
Gibson gave an example of what he said is a contradiction in the Code of Laws.
“Also, say you want to run for senate, you can only run for senate in your primary college,” Gibson said. “So why would you be able to vote in different schools that you wouldn’t be able to run in?”
Brandon Honeywell, COSAM senator, said he believes allowing double representation would create inconsistencies seeing as it is not allowed within the U.S. government when it come to landownership.
Honeywell said vote splitting on a national scale is not allowed because you may only vote where you are a homeowner and resident, not in all the places you own land.
Gibson believes having at-large senators cover any issues students with double majors may face concerning representation in SGA.
“We have at-large senators to cover that gap, as well as the fact that we’re all here to represent not only our school or college, but every student at Auburn,” Gibson said.
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