Senators will select a president pro tempore today, but they're not sure whether they'll question Student Government Association's vice president about a minor consumption citation police officials say she was issued.
On-campus senator Shad Guyton said the SGA meeting isn't the right forum for questioning vice president Olufunmbi Elemo about the citation. Elemo denies receiving one of the 87 citations from police at the Lambda Chi Alpha party Saturday.
"It's hard to tell who's being honest in the situation," Guyton said. "It could be a distraction and get in the way of getting things [in SGA] done. It'd probably be for the best if it didn't surface."
SGA president Ben Tietz and Elemo will be making statements before the SGA meeting begins, Kathy Spenos, SGA secretary said.
"I don't really know when all the facts will be available," she said. "Students have been asking questions to everyone and I'm sure we've all encountered questions."
On-campus senator Jessica Polley said she didn't care whether Elemo drank. Lying is the issue, Polley said.
"This is something out of her character from anything I've ever seen, not just personally but professionally," Polley said. "It's not the fact that she drank. It's that she may have lied about it."
On-campus senator Luke Voegerl said he's not sure what to believe.
"I'm wondering why there was a denial if police said there was a violation," Voegerl said. "If the question does come up, I'm not sure it will be answered."
At-large senator and pro tempore candidate Steve Geraci said more people will probably run for president pro tempore in hopes of inheriting Elemo's position. The pro tempore fills a vacant vice president position if necessary.
"My prediction is that people will smell blood and run for the [pro tempore] position," Geraci said. "I want the job I'm running for -- not her job."
Off-campus senator Michael Piercefield is also a candidate for the position. Nominations for other candidates will occur before voting today at the SGA meeting.
Piercefield said Elemo's situation isn't a big deal, and she needs to remain vice-president.
"She's still a wonderful leader," Piercefield said. "I believe her -- that she wasn't ticketed."
On-campus senator Nathan Tedrow agreed. Whatever happened, Tedrow said, Elemo can still lead the senate.
"No one wants to hear people being untruthful, especially in a public position," Tedrow said. "As far as her ability to perform, I'd be surprised if anyone raised the issue of whether she could continue to the best of her abilities."
Tedrow said the controversy interests people, because students are already skeptical of SGA.
"We're one of those things people love to hate," Tedrow said. "This kind of fuels the fire."
Geraci said if Elemo tells the truth, people will respect her more.
"Obviously, she has the ability to do the position well," Geraci said. "If she would've come clean, there'd be so much more respect for her on campus."
Guyton said he would rather see Elemo answer questions about the citation after the meeting.
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