Senior Ray Watts was removed from the Students’ Association Senate this past Monday. According to Senate bylaws, any Senator with two unexcused absences from scheduled Senate meetings is automatically put on the next meeting’s agenda for consideration of removal. Casting a secret ballot vote, the Senate removed Watts from his position.
“I wanted to quit,” Watts said. “I didn’t officially resign, but I told other senators of my intentions.”
Although happy to be a part of the Senate last year, his attitudes changed. “I enjoyed being on Senate last year, but my priorities had changed,” he said, mentioning that he now works 20 hours per week. “My presence on Senate became redundant – there are enough capable people to run Senate now,” he said.
Current senators reciprocated this amicable sentiment. “Ray is a very nice guy,” SA Senator and junior Dan Goldstein said. “He was a good asset to the Senate.”
Speaker of the SA Senate and sophomore Hallie Cohn echoed these positive comments. “He’s a great guy,” she said. “Ray was quiet, but chose his words carefully. While he did a lot of good work last year, his interests changed and he stopped coming.”
According to Senate bylaws, there are contingencies to fill vacancies. However, this contingency only takes effect if there are at least ten academic weeks remaining in the semester. Therefore, since it is so late in the semester, the vacancy created by Watts’ removal will most likely remain for the rest of the semester.Scott is a member of the class of 2008.
