The Emory Wheel 100 Years of
Emory University’s Independent Student Newspaper
Volume 100, Issue 37
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Printed Every Wednesday
SAF Referendum Faces Constitutional Challenge By Thomas Kreutz Contributing Writer
Derrick Tran/Contributing
College Council (CC) President Jacob Hicks (18Ox, 20C) proposes a bill to restructure CC’s legislative and executive bodies at a meeting on Nov. 20.
Hicks Seeks to Restructure CC By Thomas Kreutz Contributing Writer
College Council (CC) President Jacob Hicks (18Ox, 20C) proposed a bill on Nov. 20 to restructure the legislative and the executive branches of CC. The bill passed by a unanimous vote and will proceed to a second vote on Dec. 4 where it must pass by a twothirds majority. The current CC framework is divided between an executive body and a legislative body. Executive positions
vary based on job description, while all legislators hold equal responsibility. In an interview with the Wheel, Hicks said that though legislators have been successful in procuring impactful legislation throughout the Fall semester, CC’s current structure puts too much pressure on legislators to brainstorm initiatives and fails to hold legislators accountable when proposed initiatives do not come to fruition. “Our current structure in how we do initiatives leads to a lack of direction, … and most initiatives die,” Hicks said.
“[The bill] will lay the framework for producing legislation with consistency, which doesn’t exist under the current framework.” Hicks’ bill would separate the legislative body into five committees: Audit, Budget, Administration, Communication and Programming. Each committee would work only on initiatives relevant to their respective topic. According to Hicks, each committee would have a chair and vice
See BILL, Page 4
College Council (CC) Vice President of Finance Aditya Jhaveri (21C) submitted a petition to the Constitutional Council on Monday that seeks to nullify the results of a Student Government Association (SGA) referendum that would amend the Finance Code and increase the Student Activity Fee (SAF). In the petition, Jhaveri called SGA’s handling of the undergraduate-wide referendum “unconstitutional” on several accounts. The Constitutional Council will hold a hearing regarding the petition on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in Classroom A of the Cox Computing Lab, according to Chief Justice Sam Branson (20C). Jhaveri’s petition states that SGA’s inability to properly advertise the referendum to the student body and the absence of explanatory text on the email ballot were violations of Part VII of Emory’s Code of Elections. The petition also states that SGA violated Part VII: Referendums, Article 1, Section 2, Clause C of Emory’s Code of Elections, which requires that two notifications be sent to the electorate two days prior
to voting. Additionally, the petition recommends that the Constitutional Council examine Part 29 of the SGA Finance Code, which requires student leaders looking to amend the SAF to “sufficiently publicize” the bill to the student body. According to the petition, SGA’s advertisement of the bill three hours before its first passage through the legislature and the lack of student attendance at both SGA general body meetings and SGA town halls should be considered “poor publicity.” The document also included accusations against SGA President Ben Palmer (18Ox, 20C). Jhaveri claimed that Palmer attempted to gather information about the referendum’s status from various members of student government during the voting period. According to Jhaveri, Palmer allegedly approached CC Vice President Hithardhi Duggireddy (20C) for this information and was denied. According to Jhaveri, there is no specific statute that Palmer violated in obtaining this information. “Constitutionally speaking, I would
See CONSTITUTIONAL, Page 3
Stories That Shaped SGA Continues Free Printing Initiative Emory in 2019 By Madison Bober and Alex Klugerman Copy Editor and Editor-at-Large Emory Grapples With Yearbooks Containing Openly R acist Photos The Wheel reviewed Emory yearbooks from the 1900s and discovered images depicting open displays of racism despite the University’s desegregation in 1963. The photos portrayed mock lynchings, Greek members dressed in Confederate uniforms and carrying Confederate flags, and students wearing Ku Klux Klan hoods. University President Claire E. Sterk acknowledged the photos and called for the formation of a commission to evaluate Emory’s legacy. “The offensive and racist images in our yearbooks cannot be erased any more than they can be forgotten,” Sterk wrote in a University-wide email. SGA Votes to Impeach Dwight Ma Following numerous allegations of abuse of power and a marathon closed-door hearing that lasted late into the night, the 52nd Student Government Association (SGA) voted 10-4 to impeach former SGA President Dwight Ma (17Ox, 19C) for unethical behavior. Former SGA Vice President of Communications Tiffany Haas (19C) lodged the initial complaint against Ma, alleging that he told her there would “be a problem” if she did
NEWS Jan Love to Serve
As Interim Provost Effective Dec. 16 ... PAGE 2 P
not inform him of her actions. Ma denied the accusations but acknowledged that he might have been perceived as threatening because English is his second language, citing the claims as “prejudiced.” Former SGA Executive Vice President John Priddy (19C) replaced Ma for the remainder of his term. Albert Zhang, Quiet Leader and Community Advocate, Dies at 17 Emory sophomore and former Wheel editor Albert Zhang Liang died Aug. 30, aged 17. A Robert W. Woodruff Scholar, Zhang was remembered by friends for his leadership, eternally optimistic outlook and sharp intellect. During his time on campus, Zhang served as the vice president of communications for College Council, a senior reviewer for the Emory Journal of Asian Studies, co-editor-in-chief of the Emory Undergraduate Medical Review, an executive board member of the Media Council and as a member of Federal Defender Program, Inc. The Office of Spiritual and Religious Life held a memorial service on Oct. 18.
By Tanika Deuskar and Ana Kilbourn Senior Staff Writer and Contributing Writer
The Student Government Association (SGA) convened on Monday night to vote on the continuation of the free printing initiative for Spring 2020. Bill 53sl25 passed unanimously. Last year, SGA passed Bill 52sl47, which gave undergraduate students five Eagle Dollars from SGA’s fee interest account and the Office of the
Provost to use for free printing. Of a total cost of $40,000, SGA funds $12,000, approximately 30 percent. The remaining 70% is funded by the Office of the Provost, according to a March 4 SGA presentation. The fee interest account is a result of the interest accumulated by the Student Activity Fee (SAF) funds. SGA Vice President Lori Steffel (21B) said that the fee interest account has strict stipulations on how SGA can allocate the funds, which means the account regularly goes unused. “Then, in effect, the students aren’t
really paying for it,” Steffel said. “It is the students’ money, just paid for in a different way. It’s coming from the interest generated from their money.” According to SGA President Ben Palmer (18Ox, 20C), Campus Life said over half the Eagle Dollars allotted have been used, and the office predicts almost all of the remaining funds will be used during finals week. Palmer said that, in meeting with Campus Life officials, he and Steffel have requested other offices to help pay for the free
See KUMAR, Page 1
ATLANTA DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY DEBATE
Students Outraged Over Mock Eviction Notices Mock eviction notices distributed by Emory Students for Justice in Palestine during its Israel Apartheid Week led to outrage across the stu-
See EVICTION, Page 2
Isaiah Poritz/News Editor
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms addresses a group of journalists on behalf of former Vice President and presidential candidate Joe Biden at the fifth Demococratic primary presidential debate on Nov. 20.
OP-ED We Need Native A&E Emory Dancers EMORY LIFE Alum SPORTS Writers Dish American Voices in Emory Exhibit Dynamism in Fall Alleviates Crowded Atlanta on Top Sports Moments of the Faculty... PAGE 9 Shelters ... Back Page PAGE 12 2010s ... PAGE 6 Showcase ...