Tyler Boles, co-chair of Student Council's Appropriations Committee, announced his resignation at last night's Council meeting, citing changes in the makeup of the Appropriations Committee as a reason for his decision.
Council members expressed their surprise at Boles' sudden decision to resign.
"Tyler's decision came completely out of the blue," Graduate College representative Tom Bryan said. "I tried to solicit his opinions on appropriations [issues], and I never received any feedback."
In his address to Council, Boles expressed his frustration with Council's decision to create two Executive Council subcommittee member positions within the Appropriations Committee.
"I've been a co-chair for the last three years, and in that time we have had a lot of growth," Boles said. "We have 70 percent approval rating from CIOs, which is unheard of. It's disheartening to see Council create more constraints and restrictions on appropriations."
Council President Lauren Tilton expressed her desire for other members of the Council to come to her if they had issues with decisions made by the Council.
"Before tonight I had not heard the issues Tyler brought up," Tilton said. "I would hope that if any of you have concerns that you would communicate with me. I would hope that we can all communicate and respect each other as a body."
Vice President for Administration Jack Wilson echoed Bryan's comments regarding the confusion surrounding Boles resignation.
"It surprises me that it would happen like that, without any communication," Wilson said. "Most of the issues in the bylaws did not change -- I guess it's the Executive Council issue he didn't like."
Nevertheless, Boles said he was so taken aback by Council's decisions that he felt he must resign.
Council's actions "caused me to ask the question: What have I done wrong?" Boles said, "It is difficult to explain to committee members why they've been told they've been doing a great job all along, and then saying there are more controls and constraints that will be applied in the future ... It shows me that Council doesn't trust me."
Other changes discussed at last night's meeting involved altering the amendment regarding transfer and first-year student representation that was presented last week.
"Apparently the issue of transfers and first-years is not an issue of double representation, like we originally thought," transfer student Rep. Jason Goldstein said. "The proposal to the amendment suggests that each transfer and first-year student is guaranteed one seat for every 1,000 students they have in a school."
The Council will vote on the newly changed amendment at next week's meeting.
Although the voting on the representation amendment will be delayed until next week, Council did vote this week against granting contracted independent organization status to the proposed organization titled "Honor Commission."
Council originally deemed the organization not qualified for CIO status because its name may have confused students about the differences between the University agency Honor Committee and the proposed organization.
"I followed every rule set forth in the current bylaws of Student Council," Honor Commission founder Patrick Lee said. "Reading the current bylaws, there is no reason to deny a CIO on the basis of name only."
The Council ultimately voted to deny CIO status to Honor Commission because the name would be in violation of Virginia state law. Tilton said Council does not have the authority to create University agencies, a status the Board of Visitors conferred on the Honor Committee.
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