The Student Government AssociationStudent Court ruled the judging process in the Miss Southern Pageant will beeliminated after it was found unconstitutional in a judicial review.
On April 8 the Student Senate held aspecial meeting to review the constitutionality of the referendum proposed byformer SGA President Avery Wilson in the 2002 election.
According to the 2002 referendum,the Miss Southern pageant would become a judged contest that would award thetop three contestants with certain percentage points–20 percent for firstplace, 10 percent for second place and 5 percent for third place. The points would be added to the studentpopular vote in the general election.
However, the referendum did not saythat the reigning Miss Southern University would be required to compete in theMiss Louisiana Pageant.
The judicial review also found thatthe referendum did not pass by two-thirds of the total voter turnout.
According to the review, 1,889students voted. 1,154 studentsvoted in favor of the referendum–which was only 61.09 percent of the vote. In order to pass by two-thirds or 66.67percent of the voter turnout, 1,260 students would have had to vote in favor ofthe referendum.
The review also concluded thatWilson did not follow the proper procedures for amending the constitution ofthe SGA which included notifying student organizations within 20 days after theproposal had been received.
“As president of the SGA I havereceived the judicial review from the Chief Justice and I agree with theirfindings and support them fully,” said Wayne Hayden, SGA president. ” I requested the pageant system to beeliminated immediately because it is unconstitutional and should not have beenthere in the first place.”
Last year was the first year theMiss Southern Pageant was a judged competition. The winner of the pageant qualified to compete in the MissLouisiana in June.
This year’s pageant will go back to the traditional revue. However, Vice Chancellor of StudentAffairs Raymond Downs said that the change should not take place until nextspring.
“I am favorable to the change but wehad the entire year to make this change,” Downs said. “Why change it right before the pageant after these youngladies have prepared so hard to compete in a judged pageant.”
Reigning Miss Southern Kyana Stewartsaid that it is an excellent opportunity to go to the Miss Louisiana Pageantbut the structure of SU’s elections does not work along with that system.
“Not only does the pageant occur inthe summer time but I feel like it kind of takes away from that tradition ofSouthern because if one person wins the pageant and another person wins thepopular vote, we would have two queens,” Stewart said.
Stewart, a senior chemistry majorfrom Houston, will not compete in the Miss Louisiana Pageant.
Jasmine McKnight, a candidate forMiss Southern said she has mixed feelings on the ruling.
“The number of girls running thisyear has increased. The 20 percentwill be a disadvantage,” McKnight said. “But on the other hand the judging ofthe pageant usually weighs very heavily on the decisions of the student body.”
