Charges calling for the impeachment of senior health science major and Student Body President Zack Shaw that were filed last May have been dropped, according to Student Senate’s Internal Affairs (IA) committee.
Shaw was issued a ticket for disorderly conduct while walking on Fredonia Avenue on April 27. The IA committee received a written charge for Shaw’s impeachment that was signed by three senators shortly after the event, and an investigation into the offence commenced.
But junior political science and economics major Russell Howland, who is currently serving as the vice president of internal affairs and parliamentarian, said the charges were not in violation of any Senate policy, thereby dropping the charges and allowing Shaw to keep his position as president.
Shaw said he was ready to put the incident behind him and focus on the new year.
“Hindsight is 20/20,” Shaw said. “I have learned from my experiences and feel that I am better fit to fill my position as student body president now than I was at the end of the last school year.”
Director of Student Activities Tom Coy said he thought IA handled the matter appropriately and that he agreed with its ruling. He also added that he was excited to work with Shaw during the next year.
Members of the Senate, including junior business management and administration major and Vice President of Student Affairs Holly Alguire and senior sports communication major and Speaker of the Assembly Jonathon Teich, said they also agreed with the ruling and were ready to work with Shaw this year.
“I’m looking forward to working with Zack this year,” Alguire said. “He is extremely excited to be on Senate and is a good asset to the team.”
Not all students are pleased about the impeachment ruling. Senior history and finance major Will Parkhurst, who wrote an open letter in The Scout to Shaw last May about Shaw’s actions, said he is worried about Shaw and his administration’s accountability.
“[Shaw] was investigated, told that impeachment was coming, and he chose to compromise by agreeing to ask The Scout tpublish a formal letter of apology to the student body for his misconduct,” Parkhurst said. “[Considering] that has not happened yet I find myself losing hope we might ever have representatives of the student population who actually care about doing things right.”
Parkhurst, who ran for student body president in last year’s election, said he expects this year’s Senate to be “understaffed” and “dysfunctional,” noting that Shaw’s behavior last spring was evidence that “things are not looking up for the current student administration.”
Students can voice their opinions to The Scout or directly to the Senate at its General Assembly meetings, which will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 16 in the Garrett Center. Parkhurst’s letter to Shaw and a more detailed description of last May’s impeachment charges can be found at bradleyscout.com.
