In addition to the problems with allowing all students to vote in the elections, another voting issue has occurred two different days now.
The UAB constitution was originally updated two years ago in the 2009 spring elections. However, with new changes being proposed to the student body this year, the changes from the spring of 2008 were not included.
In both 2009 and this year’s elections the UAB Constitution amendments were overwhelmingly accepted. However, it is still unknown as to what will happen with the current proposed amendments, according to Matthew Woodward, the UAB president-elect and a junior in applied sociology.
According to Lindsey Pullum, senior in political science and Student Government Elections Commission chair, she wasn’t aware of the problem until two hours prior to the polls opening.
“The thing with the constitution was a mishap between SCBOD [Student Centers Board of Directors] and UAB. Because they brought it to my attention at 10 p.m. Monday, there was absolutely nothing I could do,” Pullum said. “Matt brought it to my attention once the ballot had been locked in, so there was no possible way of changing it.”
Although full-time students again voted in favor of the changes, the Elections Commission, UAB and SCBOD will arrange another voting day, according to Pullum.
“I have spoken to MaryCobb Randall about the issue, and we will be speaking about it when to arrange a separate voting day for passing the amendments,” Pullum said.
Woodward said in the spring of 2009, students voted on an amendment to the UAB/SCBOD constitution. The two groups have a combined constitution.
According to Woodward, the real intent of the amendment was to change the composition of the Board of Directors away from the few groups. Prior to the approved amendment, groups had to petition to be members of the Board. This amendment was approved by 86.8 percent of the student body.
“In the Constitution that was voted upon this year, they not only didn’t make the changes, but they included new groups that could be a member of the Board of Directors,” Woodward said.
According to MaryCobb Randall, Student Centers President and senior in business administration, the constitution put before the student body for vote went through several stages.
“Our board put together a committee to make changes to the constitution. In incorporating all of the changes that we wanted to implement in to the document, this update was not incorporated,” Randall said. “Once a draft constitution was complete, it was emailed to our board, our advisors, and to Union Activities Board leadership for review. After this round of recommendations and changes, we proceeded to have the document approved by the Union Activities Board and, finally, by the Student Centers Board of Directors.”
Randall said updating the combined Student Centers Board of Directors and Union Activities Board is a long process.
“Updating a constitution is a laborious process. Unlike most organizations, our constitution must be approved by the student body at large, so any oversight that we make is not as easily fixed,” Randall said. “We are, however, committed to making these changes with integrity and with the best interests of students as a priority.”
