 "Photo: Stephen Fogg")
The Student Senate held an informal meeting Sunday night to discuss the issues surrounding the recent resignation of student body president Eric Beckham and his successor Kolin Loveless, former speaker of the senate.
"Very few people know why Eric Beckham actually resigned," said Joseph Reed, chief justice of the judicial branch, an entity within the Student Government Association.
Beckham's resignation marks only the third time in A&M history that a student body president has left his office. The last occurrence was in 1977.
According to the Senate Constitution, once the president is unable to perform his or her duties as president, the role falls to the senate speaker.
Loveless and other high-ranking members within the SGA used the meeting to talk about plans for this year.
The presidential search is the main priority for student senate, according to Loveless. As the SBP, Loveless will aid in the search for the next University president.
There are many open forums that allow students to become involved directly with the presidential search, Loveless said.
Those who wish to submit opinions regarding the search can do so through an online survey on the search committee's Web site. On Friday the search committee is holding its first open forum regarding the search.
Loveless also plans to work with many student leaders in order to distinguish attributes that a majority of students would desire in a new president.
Another topic that was discussed was the election of a new speaker of the senate, which is to be held Sept. 9 at the first senate meeting of the year. The office is currently held by Michele Breaux.
With the 10th anniversary of the Bonfire tragedy coming in November, Loveless, along with Executive Vice President Jacob Robinson, is helping plan the remembrances that will be put on for the families of the victims.
"This is one of the last times the University will have remembrances for the victims with the families being directly involved," Loveless said. "We are trying to do things in a tasteful way."
Another issue brought up at the meeting is having a non-voting student member of the College Station City Council, according to Daniel Dick, chairman of the external affairs committee.
"I think we can get this done in one year and I think most students will favor this idea," Dick said.
Loveless also said he wants to encourage more of a dialogue between international students and the rest of the student body.
"I am here to work and I have a job to do, and I want to get as much done as possible," Loveless said.
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