Vice president steps down

by Erica Ryan
Staff Writer

Ohio University student senators learned of the resignation of Vice President Melanie Johnston via a letter at their first meeting of Spring Quarter last night.

In a written statement to The Post, Johnston cited personal and academic reasons for her resignation. Johnston did not attend the meeting and was unable to be reached for comment.

Johnston is the second executive member of the Vision party's ticket to resign. Former Treasurer Michael-Lynn Tunnell resigned at the end of Fall Quarter.

Mike Sostarich, Student Senate adviser since 1980, said this is the first time two senate executive s have resigned in one year during his work with senate.

Senate President Jim Hintz, the only remaining of three Vision executives elected last spring, said the resignations affect the entire organization more than him personally.

"It was their choice to resign, and they did it for their own reasons," he said.

Johnston's resignation comes on the heels of a shaky vote of confidence at senate's last Winter Quarter meeting. Only 17 of 36 senators voted to retain her, and 16 voted for her removal, according to a March 8 Post article. These results echoed the Fall Quarter vote of confidence, when 17 senators voted to remove her and 13 to retain her.

At least two-thirds of voting senators, or 24 of 36 senators, must vote to remove an executive from office, said Senator-at-large Mike Waterhouse in the March 8 article.

"I think Melanie did a fine job," Sostarich said. "I understand her reasons for resigning."

Senators will fill the open vice president position at next week's meeting, Hintz said. Nominees must be current voting senators.

Existing senators fill executive positions best because they already know senate policies and procedures, Hintz said. Each nominee will be able to speak briefly and an election will follow.