Senate, SGA President promise to work together

After a heavily contested week between the Student Senate and Student Government Association President Jamal Taylor, the “We Deserve Better” bill, proposed by James Davis, a junior political science major from Baton Rouge, which attempted to impeach and remove Taylor, and the Senate’s referendum to allow the student body to vote on Taylor remaining in office is no longer active.
In a compromise between the two governing bodies, facilitated by System President Ralph Slaughter, Taylor will began in his suspension Monday, Nov. 3 at 8 a.m. and end the following.
The bill and referendum have also been removed from the Senate’s records.
As apart of his suspension, Taylor will not be able to assume any duties or the title of SGA President for seven full days.
“He did what people should have done last week,” began Taylor, referring to Slaughter’s injunction of events, “talk to all involved parties on both sides of the issue to come to a resolution that is advantageous to everyone without the drama. I look forward to working with the Senate so we can make this year as productive as possible.”
Taylor said during his week off, he would catch up on schoolwork and get some much-needed rest.
Regardless of the ruling, Davis says he and the student body have decided to continue with their petition to impeach and remove Taylor from office.
To impeach Taylor, James needs 865 signatures from undergraduate students on Southern’s campus. From there, Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Julie Wessinger will review the petition and validate the names and student identification numbers.
“Beginning Monday at 8 a.m., the students will have the opportunity to sign the petition. Mr. Taylor is acting as though he is above the law of the Constitution, Bylaws, and Southern’s Handbook. He has misused his power as president and has not kept his promise to the student body; we the students do deserve better.”
Stasha Rhodes, acting SGA president does not see this issue as a personal attack against Taylor nor as a political tactic created in the Senate.
“Mr. Davis approached the Senate as a student with a student bill. We had nothing to do with his actions. Despite the referendum failing to make the ballot, if they [students] question their president’s leadership, they are in the full right because they are students on this campus.”
Slaughter said he would decline comment until Rhodes and Taylor released their statements.

Gallery • 1 Photos

Wil Norwood

Senators Phillip Robinson, Davitria Stubbs and Phillip Wallace debate the merits of the "We Deserve Better Bill," written my James Davis to impeach SGA President Jamal Taylor. Tina helped me write these.