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Commuter Council unrecognized by USG
USG says club did not meet required deadlines, will have chance to prove themselves to regain member
By Katie Anderson
On November 14, 2012
The Commuter Council has been automatically unrecognized by the United Students Government.
During the senate meeting on Nov. 6, USG decided that the Commuter Council had violated the
constitution by not getting their election results in by the Nov. 1 deadline.
Miguel Pereira, USG rules and regulations chair, said that the constitution clearly states in Article 9
Section C that organizations have to hold proper elections and submit the results to the Executive Board
by Nov. 1 or the organization forfeits their recognition.
"All the records I have from the business office, any E-Board members, senators, and members of
judicial council show that they did not submit any election results by Nov. 1," Pereira said. "Showing
this, they forfeit their right to be recognized as a club."
Tamara McMillan, associate director of student life for leadership, said that 80 percent of the students
are commuters and that they depend on the bi-weekly breakfast provided to them.
"The constitution is vague and doesn't say that you have to submit your election on Bengal Connect,"
she said. "That's the reason they were unrecognized."
USG President Sara Garfinkle said that the club also did not prove that they had at least 10 members or
that they held three events per semester, both requirements for all USG organizations.
Pereira said that out of the 45 senators and E-Board members, 12 are commuters.
"If the election results were submitted not on Bengal Connect but by somebody writing it on a piece
of paper or a power point presentation or Word or Excel, it would have been accepted," Pereira said.
"None of them were, and due to that fact, here's what the result is."
Garfinkle said that she as well as other USG members tried to reach out to the Commuter Council.
"Various members did try to reach out to help Commuter Council various times throughout this
academic year," she said.
Katherine Lee, treasurer of the Commuter Council and Monika Thompson, a member of the club,
attended the senate meeting Tuesday. They both said that they were willing to work with USG to try to
redeem recognition.
"We will be filing a grievance so they can follow their own constitution," Lee said.
Pereira said they can be funded and recognized by the USG again.
"First of all, they will have to prove themselves again," he said. "After that, they would have to go
through the rules and regulations committee, present in front of the senate, answer a questions and
comments period by the senate, then go through a voting process, which needs a two-thirds vote. After
that, if they wanted to be a funded club, they would still have to work two more semesters."
Sashana Campbell contributed to this story.
Katie Anderson can be reached by email at Anderson.record@live.com.
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