Members Say SGA Voted Down Investigation Representative Says Election Misconduct and Negligence Need to Be Explored

s Weekend images: A last look at Homecoming MONDAY. NOVEMBER 6, 1989 JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY VOL. 67 NO. 20 Members say SGA voted down investigation Representative says election misconduct and negligence need to be explored By Kiran Krishnamurthy Bartos was accused of violating election rules by impeachment, Gordon said. SGA reporter displaying campaign posters for a longer period of The Breeze will file a petition under Virginia FOI When the Student Government Association met in time than allowed, Johnson said. laws to obtain the minutes of the SGA's closed executive session Tuesday, it considered All motions to conduct an investigation of Gordon session. investigating SGA Legislative Vice President Alex and Bartos were voted down in the closed session, The Breeze believes the session violated Gordon and Spotswood Hall Senator Scott Bartos for Johnson said. Subsection 2.1-344 of the FOI because the SGA neglecting their duties, according to an SGA student Two SGA senators, who asked to remain voted on motions to investigate Gordon's and Bartos' representative who attended the session. anonymous for fear of losing their positions, conduct. Executive sessions are closed to the public and the confirmed Johnson's statements. Johnson said the internal affairs committee alleged media. Under Virginia's Freedom of Information Act Gordon neglected his duties by going out of town Sven Johnson said Internal Affairs Committee laws, members who participate in executive session the weekend before minor elections were held. Chairman Jason Mclntosh introduced a motion to are allowed to discuss matters after the session is Gordon admitted he was out of town, but said he investigate Gordon for alleged neglect of duty. over. believed his weekends were his own business and The accusations arose from reports of Gordon's Another member of the SGA said the said that, in the past, no SGA member has been alleged improper handling of senatorial elections, the organization's bylaws stipulate that members of the required to stay at JMU on weekends. apportionment of commuter and resident senators, SGA cannot reveal matters that were discussed in Gordon said he left town Thursday, Sept. 7 on and the selection of student representatives, Johnson executive session. said. To violate the bylaws is grounds for See SGA page 2 > International event is personal loss for student at the day camp where she worked By Jennifer Powell staff writer called her. A friend had heard the news on the radio, the counselor said. Like many students away from Higgins had been watching the Cable home, Chrissy Higgins has a picture News Network, but no news had been of her father on her desk. released. Soon after, an announcement But pictures of this JMU was made that a videotape of William sophomore's father were shown to the Higgins would be broadcast. world. She called her stepmother, also a The picture on Higgins' desk is one Marine, at the Pentagon, but still of a smiling Marine, Lt. Col. William could not find out definite information. R. Higgins, kidnapped in Lebanon At 1:30 p.m. on CBS, the videotape Feb. 17, 1988 while on duly as part of was broadcast to the nation. It showed a United Nations peacekeeping force, a man, clothed in a U.S. Marine and apparently murdered about a year uniform, hanging by a noose. and a half later. No one knew if the Marine on the The picture on Chrissy Higgins^dcsk tape was dead before he was hanged or was published in Newsweek not, and Chrissy Higgins has not been 1988. anything since the death of her This is the picture by which Higgins Ihcr was first announced, she said. wants to remember her father. The date of his death still has not been "I want [people] to remember him determined. like he was: carefree, in a Marine shirt Before the group that was holding and shorts," she said. William Higgins hostage released the But "this summer just blew me videotape, it had threatened several away," she said. When she was told he limes to kill him. had been murdered, "I was so angry," Since February 1989, a year after her she said. "I war hurt. Any emotion father's kidnapping, she has worn a you can think of, I was feeling. Missing in Action bracelet, with her "I was totally shocked and devastated father's name, on her right wrist. at the same time. I didn't jexpect it. I Similar bracelets were made in honor Staff photo by LAWRENCE JACKSON was just scared." [ of soldiers missing during the Vietnam Higgins first heard that her father may have been killed when a counselor See HIGGINS page 2 >- Sophomore Chrissy Higgins with a photo of her father. Page 2, The Breeze, Monday, November 6,1989 SGA ► (Continued from page 1) the SGA had reserved a table in the campus center, SGA's constitution, Gordon said. he said. But, Johnson said, due to a typing error, that personal business and did not return until Sunday, Apportionment amendment was not included in the constitution as it Sept. 10. He initially refused to comment on who But, Gordon said, these preparations were not appears in the JMU student handbook. was left in charge of the minor elections in his absence. necessary because only 27 commuters applied for the Gordon said SGA Parliamentarian Steven Billy 27 positions. But in a later interview, he said leaving town was recommended during a senate meeting that the SGA This number was seven more than last year's, adhere to the constitution as it appears in the not a neglect of duty because "I left any questions Gordon said, due to a reapportionment of senatorial dealing with minor elections in the capable hands of handbook and allow only three Greek senators. positions. SGA Treasurer [Kevin Hughes]." But Gordon decided to allow four Greek senators Apportionment sets the number of senate because the SGA constitution is "a living Commuter elections positions at a figure proportionate to the number of document" Johnson also said Gordon did not make the students. However, apportionment of commuter Any amendments added to the constitution necessary preparations for commuter elections. senators was not re ••evaluated until Sept 11, the day automatically become a part of it, Gordon said. Voting booths should have been available and before elections, Gordon said. Gordon and Billy said they currently are ballots should have been prepared before the Gordon raised the number of commuter senatorial investigating the situation to determine how many election, he said. positions to 27 Sept. 11 and notified other members Greek senators should be allowed and will resolve "You need excessive preparations to have of the SGA's executive council of his decision, he the matter by Tuesday's meeting. commuter elections, and it wasn't done," Johnson said. Senatorial races said. Greek senators Controversy also surrounds this year's senatorial Gordon said voting booths were not necessary Johnson said the apportionment of Greek senators races in Spotswood and Chappelear Halls, Johnson because commuter elections are conducted in the also was questioned in the executive session. said. same manner as mock elections. A table is set up in Before Lara Kain resigned last week, there were During executive session, Mclntosh introduced a the Warren Campus Center and ballots are collected four Greek senators in the SGA. — in a box, Gordon said. Last year, the SGA unanimously approved an Ballots had been prepared before the election, and amendment to add a fourth Greek senator to the See SGA page 18> Higgins > (Continued from page 1) "That's my main purpose [for] Seven threats on her father's life had an important part of her father's life — War, and the bracelets would be worn talking," she said. "He's just a dad. been made, Chrissy Higgins said, so his role as a dad. until the soldiers or their bodies came He's not some superhero. He's just a when the final threat came, it was "No matter how busy he got with home, she said. guy who had a job that just happened impossible to know that this one was his job and no matter how important "I don't always know what to say to be a little dangerous." real. his work was to him, he always put when someone says, 'Oh, what's Some television news organizations When William Higgins first went to family first," she said. "I know that that?'" also broadcast another, more gruesome, Lebanon, Chrissy Higgins' first was an important part of his life that Higgins recently wrote a letter to the picture of Higgins' body after his reaction was frustration. It was the he wouldn't want to be forgotten." editor of People magazine because her murder. beginning of her senior year in high Higgins' parents divorced when she father was not mentioned in a "People That picture was one reason Chrissy school. was 5 years old, and she moved in with of the '80s" review the magazine Higgins refused to be interviewed by "I wanted him there to see me her father at age 11. She enjoyed the recenUy published. many of the reporters who tried to graduate," she said. "I wanted him there "normal" relationship she had with her "They didn't even mention that my interview her. for my birthday and Christmas. Just father, from their activities to his dad had been taken hostage or that he "We had so many calls," she said. little things. fatherly advice. was presumed dead," she said. "It was "[They were] impossible to count. "Then [I was] completely shocked "I looked up to him," she said.

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