Rules changed to avoid conflicts

By Caitlin McGrail
THE POST

After a summer of rewrites and revisions, the Ohio University Senior Class Council debated, voted on and adopted changes made to its constitution and rules and procedures.

"Hopefully these changes will work," Treasurer Lauren Dikis said. "This past spring was ridiculous, but we've worked together on the changes, and we're looking for a positive change."

At the end of Spring Quarter, council President Gigi Jameel said she planned to rewrite the constitution and rules and procedures over the summer. Council made minor modifications to the constitution, but it altered the rules and procedures drastically because of the confusion during last year's campaign season and election.

During the Spring Quarter elections, campaigning students made accusations that the 1999-2000 council supported the TOGA party and ran the elections improperly. Following the election, the three victorious TOGA party members refused their positions because Jameel was elected president.

This year's council members plan to enforce voting and polling procedures more than in the past, Jameel said. Students must show either an OU identification card or driver's license to vote.

Council members working at the polls will check voters' names off a computerized list, preventing them from re-voting, she said. A student still may vote if he does not show proper identification, but a different-colored ballot will be used.

While the votes are counted, the student's name will be checked and the ballot verified, Jameel said.

To avoid future turmoil, section four of the Campaign Rules and Procedures now states in capital letters, "The present administration shall not support a ballot." Jameel said the change should prevent council members from supporting a party.

"The officers made these decisions together, and they're for the good of the senior class," Senior Class Adviser Ralph Amos said. "Hopefully they'll change the system for the better."