In a written statement Wednesday, Student Government Association's vice- president said her attorney will address the citation Muncie Police said she received.
Olufunmbi Elemo said she did not receive a minor-consumption citation at Lambda Chi Alpha's party Saturday. SGA President Ben Tietz said the Munice Police Department's response that night was separate from Ball State's "Police Yourself" campaign.
Tietz said Elemo's situation should not distract senators from doing their jobs as elected representatives. On-campus senator Jason Blevins said he's waiting for all of the facts in the case.
"Eventually, it's going to be resolved," Blevins said. "Some proof will come out either way."
Blevins said whatever happens, Elemo can still effectively lead.
Sigma Kappa sorority member Lydia Segerstrom said after hearing rumors about Elemo, she needed to attend the SGA meeting.
"I felt like I needed to be here to voice my opinion, not only as a member of the greek community but as a part of the student body," Segerstrom said. "I think her statement was pretty true and pretty real."
Recently elected president pro tempore Michael Piercefield said Elemo's situation affected how senators feel but not how they do their jobs.
"I don't think it's going to change the way things run in senate," Piercefield said. "It does change some senators' feelings."
Tietz said senators need to figure out how students feel about "Police Yourself." Because the student body is split over the issue, Tietz said, SGA isn't sure what direction to take.
"It's something senators can't really ignore," Tietz said. "We can give students the opportunity to voice their opinion and find out where we can go from there."
Another member of Sigma Kappa, Deanna Rhodes, said she attended her first SGA meeting to find out how senators were dealing with "Police Yourself."
"I feel like they should step up and do something," Rhodes said. "It really is creating more of a problem than it's trying to solve."
Piercefield said despite senators' efforts, they can't affect the university's campaign.
"I really don't think senators or anybody else can change the way Muncie and Ball State are going to act the next couple of weekends," Piercefield said. "Regardless of what SGA does, I really don't think it's going to have any bearing."
That doesn't mean senators shouldn't talk about it, Piercefield said. He said open forums between the administration and students are amazing.
"Students are finally getting their voices out there," Piercefield said. "Unfortunately, their voices are out there about something that's illegal."
Senior Jason Sill said police should have organized Tuesday's forum instead of Mysch-Hurst residence halls. Sill said administrators deflected blame onto the students for recent events, such as the death of Michael McKinney and Karl Harford, citing alcohol abuse.
"They need to point it back at students, because they know they're in trouble," Sill said. "They're trying to cover their butts."
Tietz said administrators at open forums take students' opinions seriously.
"Honestly, I think students really do have an influence," Tietz said. "Talking to them there does influence their decisions."
Senator Jared Carey, a member of SGA's public safety committee, said the administration will do what it wants, but student opinion is important.
"Student opinion always matters. It's important to ask for, if nothing else," Carey said.
At forums, students know that they're not alone, Carey said.
Sill said he wants students to join him Monday at 4:30 p.m. at the Bell Tower to rally against "Police Yourself."
"Enough of these 10-people protests, let's get people out there," Sill said. "If only a quarter of the students showed up, that would make some change."
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