A complaint filed against Student Senate Speaker Michael Busada’s Standing Committee appointments was withdrawn Friday minutes before University Trial Court Judge Michael Tipton could make his ruling.
Joseph Morel, the executive staff’s assistant director of legislative affairs, withdrew his complaint accusing Busada of “fraternization,” after consulting with his “legal representative” Ralph Johnson.
Last Monday, Morel filed his complaint because of Busada’s Jan. 21 appointments of several members of Kappa Sigma fraternity to Student Senate’s standing committees. Busada also is a member of Kappa Sig.
Busada’s motion to dismiss the complaint at the beginning of the hearing was rejected.
Morel said he and Johnson agreed it was best to withdraw his complaint after hearing Busada’s argument and admitted there was a significant number of Kappa Sigs in the Senate.
“While, I hadn’t proved there was fraternization, I had at least forced Busada — in the process of defending himself — to admit that there is an insestual level of Kappa Sigs in the Senate,” Morel said.
Morel’s complaint said the appointments “warrant suspicion of fraternization,” because four of Busada’s fraternity brothers were appointed to the Rules Committee and another was appointed to the Student’s Rights and Welfare Committee.
Kappa Sig members Richard Rogers, Matt Detivieux, Daniel Escalona and Brandon Billeaudeau serve on the Student Senate’s Rules Committee. Matt Thomas, whose name also appeared on the official complaint as a member of Kappa Sig, serves on the Student Rights and Welfare Committee.
According to the Student Senate’s Rules of Order, legislation concerning elections and all other legislation concerning SG rules and members are referred to the Rules Committee.
Similarly, legislation concerning matters related to students and University regulations are referred to the Student’s Rights and Welfare Committee.
Members of the Rules Committee can take the floor during a debate and argue with much more detail for or against legislation, Morel said. This can sway the Senate.
He also said if there happens to be a greater number of Kappa Sigs in the Senate and four ended up on one committee, then the appointments would not look as odd.
But, Morel said the current appointments could lead to corruption or favoritism within the Senate.
Busada said he and his fraternity brothers, who comprise one-third of the Senate, do not always stand together on legislative issues.
Also, while some of his fraternity brothers are running under the Golson/Byrd ticket, Busada said he supports the Gipson/King ticket in this spring’s Student Government Elections.
Morel and Johnson made a surprising move when they called the Speaker to testify as a witness for them. Tipton allowed this move despite its awkwardness.
When asked if there had been any discussion about the appointments, Busada said he was sure there was some discussion about the composition of the Rules committee.
But, he said the Senate unanimously Legislative Order No. 11, approving the appointments to the committees.
Busada said everyone was aware of the Kappa Sig presence in the Senate before they voted, and only one senator objected to the appointments.
Busada not only said Morel had no legal grounds to win his complaint, but questioned his reasons for filing the complaint nine weeks after the Senate voted on the appointments.
Busada repeatedly said he believes Morel filed complaint in order to gain publicity for his campaign.
Morel is running on an independent ticket for an art and sciences senate seat.
Morel said he was made aware of the committee’s composition in mid-February, but did not find time to file his complaint until now.
Busada also questioned the reasons Johnson, a former Student Senate parliamentarian, was acting as legal counsel for Morel.
Busada said Johnson was forced to resign from his position, but Johnson said the Speaker did not force his resign, instead he resigned for health reasons.
Despite the Speaker’s comments, Johnson said he holds no animosity toward Busada and has never questioned his fairness to the senators and student body.
There has never been a time in which the Speaker’s integrity has been questioned, Johnson said to the court. Johnson believes Busada has acted in the best interest of the student body.
Johnson also said he had advised Morel there was a chance he would lose the case against Busada.
He said Morel asked him to act as legal counsel.
Busada said he was happy the case was withdrawn.