Student Council approved a Rules and Ethics Board last night, a week later then originally scheduled after members raised questions about selection of board members.
The bill to approve the board's formation as well its members was set to be approved last week until representatives from the Law School questioned the wisdom of forming the board without a Law representative. This week's bill included two members from the Law School, as well as members from the College, Engineering School and Commerce School.
Law Rep. Kevin Walsh said he was pleased with the new board membership.
The Executive Board "did a great job at screening the candidates and coming up with a well-qualified board," Walsh said. "I understand that exec doesn't know that many people at the Law School, so I think that the Law School is fortunate that they were willing to take a second look and consider more people from across all the different schools."
The board is responsible for reviewing alleged violations concerning Council's constitution and bylaws. It also is meant to settle conflicts within Council, according to Student Council President Lauren Tilton.
College Rep. Sterling Elmore said the board will help to hold Student Council accountable for its actions.
"I see it as being a body that makes sure that Student Council stays in line and serves the student body to best of its ability," Elmore said, adding the board's duties will be more like a "checking" process on the representative body by keeping it "organized and running the way it should be."
Brian Gavron, the board's newly appointed chair, said in an interview last week he envisions the board as an institution to which Council members can bring internal Council issues to have them resolved in "a timely and responsible manner."
Tilton said in an earlier interview that review of the recently questioned performance of Vice President for Organizations Catherine Tobin would come upon creation of the board; however, in an interview last week she said she does not anticipate "revisiting the past, unless new issues come up."
According to Tilton, in accordance with the constitution, members of the board are recommended by Council's vice presidents and then are approved by the Executive Board.
Tilton said "expertise, experience and diversity from within the community and schools" were considered when selecting board members.
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