Without the Student Government Association Senate after last week’s
controversial judicial decision, many have been left without jobs and with
questions of what is to come for the SGA.

Although some former Senators have been unable to press on, others are
finding, or at least trying to find, ways to work around the tensions and
move forward without any official title.

Questions are still on the rise as far as the legality of the Judiciary
hearing that took place before the Thanksgiving break and to complicate
matters, there have been rampant rumors of possible civil suits from
disenfranchised former Senators. Whether there is any legitimacy to the
rumors is yet to be determined. The issues surrounding taking legal action
on the side of the petitioned is one that is being looked into at this
present time, according to some internal, but unnamed, SGA sources.

“We spoke to [Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs] Javier Cevallos about
it and he is looking into the legal issues with the University’s lawyers,”
Chair of Finance Jeff Bazydlo said. “We’re looking into it and having the
case reviewed to see what the opinions of others are as far as where we go
from here.”

Speaker Jim Eltringham also commented on the situation of a possible
civil suit against the University of Massachusetts in direct relationship to
the SGA.

“We want to have the case reviewed so we know that if we brought this
issue to court that we would not be laughed in the face by a judge,”
Eltringham said. “I have personally been reviewing the case and the
possibilities of illegalities which may have taken place.”

The Executive Board has taken rumors of a possible civil suit lightly,
as SGA President Jeff Howe explained that no one’s rights to due process
were violated in this case.

“No one’s rights to due process were violated and if someone wants to
sue the SGA they would have to say that these elections were constitutional,
and no one can say that these elections were constitutional,” Howe said. “I
don’t think they will get away with this.”

However, others begged to differ when asked about the constitutionality
of the elections.

Chair of University Policy Michael Whitehouse explained that he felt
there were two direct violations in relationship to the due process of the
case.

“Jim [Eltringham] was not provided with the petitioners case before
hand; therefore, most of the evidence provided was a surprise,” Whitehouse
said. “He was not able to properly respond to the accusations against him.
Secondly, the Area Governments and anyone else named in the case did not
have the opportunity to testify or defend themselves. They did not have the
opportunity to defend themselves, yet they were still prosecuted and that’s
illegal and a violation of due process.”

Along with the rumors of legal actions, rumors surrounding a “Shadow
Government” have arisen. There have been various allusions to the make up of
this shadow government and questions about whether it even really exists.

“The shadow government is basically some people, mostly chairs of
committees, getting together and taking this opportunity to rise above the
ashes as a better SGA,” Whitehouse said.

Whitehouse explained that most of what has been talked about has been
done on a one on one basis, however they will be meeting tonight at 7 p.m.
to discuss issues surrounding the student body.

“We’re going to go through the Constitution and by-laws and look at the
structure of the government,” Whitehouse said. “We’re acting as a government
when we’re an advocacy for the student body. We look at the system as a
checks and balance system when we don’t need to because we don’t have the
power of that type of system.”

Other issues surrounding the idea of a shadow government would be the
lack of senators involved in the processes of the SGA. Whitehouse explained
that they are hoping to be viewed as a new SGA, one with a new attitude and
seen as productive rather than just about internal politics.

“Whether we revamp or throw out the SGA, we’re still the same people
working for the SGA and the students,” Whitehouse said. “We want this to be
a rebirth of the SGA and a way for us to shed our skin.”

Howe’s opinions on even the possibility of a shadow government were
simple: he stated that the SGA will always be recognized as the SGA by the
administration as well as the student body.

Some senators approached the decision pragmatically, saying that it was
time for the SGA to move past the weeks of sordid infighting.

“All the damage has been done and we need to begin next semester with a
fresh start,” Tom Flenner, the Chair of Public Policy and Relations, said.