Business progressed as usual at the Student Senate meeting Wednesday night despite the calls by several Senate members for the resignation of Speaker Evan Bergeron. Amid these calls, another Senator’s eligibility in senate proceedings was questioned. Though the discord offered a brief sidetrack from normal proceeding, the senators quickly returned to questions concerning how rain might affect the new paper football tickets that have replaced the former cardboard ones. Bergeron said he will not resign because he feels there are several goals left he wants to obtain before he leaves. Sen. Donald Hodge said if Bergeron does not resign before the next meeting, he will submit a motion to recall Bergeron from his position. If Bergeron is successfully recalled on Wednesday, a vote for a new speaker will take place immediately. Members are calling for Bergeron’s resignation amid allegations that he misused his SG-issued Blackberry. Bergeron said he was unaware that he was violating the University contract. Bergeron placed phone calls and sent text messages on the Blackberry – features that were not included in the contract SG made with Cingular. Bergeron’s phone was then charged for the excessive calls he placed. When the charges came to the attention of Hodge, he began an investigation which resulted in him asking Bergeron to step down. At the beginning of the meeting, Crawford Leavoy, former executive staff assistant who was also accused of misusing a Blackberry, gave a 10-minute speech about his disapproval of being forced to resign for similar misuses. Leavoy has admitted that he violated SG’s contract with Cingular. Leavoy told The Daily Reveille in July he resigned to avoid creating negative publicity for the organization after it was revealed that he too had violated SG’s Blackberry contract. He told the Senate on Wednesday he was unfairly forced to leave by SG President Chris Odinet who he said did not give him a fair opportunity to explain his case. “I have been punished for doing the wrong thing, admitting my wrong and trying to work towards a resolution,” Leavoy said. Leavoy then presented the group with his checkbook, while speaking from the lectern in the Atchafalaya Room, and explained that he was writing a check for the costs he had incurred. As he held the checkbook up, he went on to say that while he never maintained his innocence, “some did,” referring to Bergeron who said all calls on his phone were “business related.” Leavoy told Bergeron to resign for violating the rules of SG, LSU and the trust of students. Following Leavoy’s speech, Hodge, Senate finance committee chairman, said the finance committee found that Bergeron abused his Blackberry contract and called for the resignation of the speaker. “My personal belief is that so much damage has been done to SG,” Hodge said. “We have rules, and we must follow them.” Hodge said the finance committee is continuing to investigate Bergeron’s cell phone usage. He explained that the committee had requested Bergeron’s phone records to verify statements he had made to the committee. Bergeron said that when he received an incoming personal call, he immediately hung up and called the person back on his cell phone. Hodge also said that an attempt to read the text messages Bergeron had sent on his Blackberry were unsuccessful. The phones have been turned over to Odinet, but Hodge said when they looked at Bergeron’s phone, the messages had been erased. The messages on Leavoy’s phone remained and Hodge said they were able to read them. But Bergeron wasn’t the only one under the microscope, the group also discussed the eligibility of Arts & Sciences Senator Heath Hattaway to serve in the Senate. SG Solicitor General Josh Melder then spoke about the alleged ineligibility of Hattaway. Melder said he filed a complaint against Hattaway after he learned that in the spring semester Hattaway had dropped below full-time status, making him ineligible for the Senate. An SG court hearing concerning his eligibility will be held Thursday night at 7 in the Union. College of Engineering Senator Hayes Barber said he thinks the leadership of SG should have informed the Senate about Hattaway’s status earlier. “It makes it hard for those of use who are trying to make a difference when issues come up and they don’t let us know for three months,” Barber said. After Hodge called for Bergeron’s resignation, he discussed the committee’s findings on the purchase of $1,243.87 of food for two spring Senate meetings. Hodge said there was $1,000 in a contingency fund for the food, but the food went over budget by about $244. Hodge then said Bergeron approved the second purchase under the advisement of Hattaway, causing the purchase to go over budget. “The speaker said Sen. Hattaway had verified that there was enough money in the account,” Hodge said. The group also discussed concerns about the new ticket policy, including concern from some students that Social Security numbers appear on the print out, putting them at risk for identity theft. Molly Hall, director of athletics, said students can cut off the bottom of their ticket where their Social Security numbers are listed or cover them up with a permanent marker. Executive staff member Ryan Berni warned students not to allow their tickets to get wet, something he said is a concern that was brought to the ticket office. He suggested students keep their tickets in a Ziploc bag to prevent the ink from smudging if it gets wet.
—–Contact Elizabeth Miller at [email protected]