Senator questions districting

An IU Student Association member has filed a request for the interpretation of the student government's constitution concerning the placement of some IUSA senators.\nDietrich Willke, a senator himself and a member of IUSA's membership committee, filed a request to the IUSA Supreme Court Nov. 6, asking for an interpretation of Article II, Sections One and Nine, both portions of which control the jurisdiction of IUSA senators. Willke wants the court to determine whether some senators are representing the correct constituencies. \n"As a senator of IUSA, I want to make sure that IUSA is a valid organization," Willke said in his request.\nAs part of IUSA policy, a senator must represent his or her certain school. Willke's complaint is that some senators are not representing the correct group of students.\n"Some of the actual congressmen and senators are holding the position without having jurisdiction over the position," Willke's letter said. Willke is asking for the court to remedy this problem "so that individuals who truthfully represent their constituents can occupy the congress seats."\nWillke has been involved with IUSA for the past five years and said he wants to make sure IUSA is treating the students fairly.\n"There are always allegations that IUSA doesn't respect the students," Willke said.\nLast week, Willke voiced opposition to IUSA executives for appointing IUSA Treasurer Blair Greenberg to IU's presidential search committee though he did not formally apply for the position.\nWillke began questioning senator's positions when he was originally listed as a senator for the College of Arts and Sciences. Willke is actually a student in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. He said he was unsure why he was originally listed by IUSA as a representative for COAS, but said it may have been because he was elected by write-in vote.\nWillke named 13 senators in his request that may be violating the constitution by representing the wrong people.The letter was sent to Samara Mindel, internal affairs committee chairwoman for the IUSA Supreme Court. \nIn her response to Willke and the respondents named in the letter, Mindel said the senators mentioned have until today to file a brief in their defense, proving whether they do or do not represent their proper constituency.\nSome said that Willke's letter is just part of a misunderstanding.\nJames Motter, the chief policy adviser for the IUSA executives, said he believes one of the reasons some of the senators named are not representing the right constituencies is because those senators switched their major.\nSome of the students mentioned represent the University Division, a division for mostly freshmen and sophomores who haven't declared a major, but are actually students in COAS. Motter said he believes some senators ran for the UDIV because they were in that division during the election, but have recently declared a major and are now out of the division. \nHe said a switch from UDIV to another school isn't as big of a problem as a switch from one school to the next.\n"If you're switching from business to HPER, it's a big deal," Motter said. He said he thinks anyone that has a dramatic switch such as changing from school to school should be pulled out of office.\n"You can't really argue that a business major that once was a HPER major can clearly represent the HPER constituency," Motter said.\nCristina McGinnis, who was named in Willke's letter, said during the election, she ran for a senator representing the HPER school, but was actually enrolled in UDIV. She is now applying for the school, as well as taking all HPER classes.\n"I don't think you should be penalized for switching schools just because you are an IUSA senator," McGinnis said. "I think it's just all a huge misunderstanding."\nMcGinnis said she will probably file a brief to the supreme court to explain her position as senator.\nAlthough IUSA's constitution was recently rewritten, Motter said he believes the election code and bylaws need to be changed. He said he believes the problem is due to a gray area in the bylaws and those who bring up problems in the constitution should not be given a hard time for being concerned.\n"To the best of my knowledge, there is no intentional fraud by the executives or Congress," Motter said.