News
Cychosz selected SGA vice president
The Pointer
ajuhn217@uwsp.edu
The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Student Government Association senate voted in a new vice president for the remainder of the semester last Thursday during their weekly meeting.
Kirk Cychosz, with a vote of 12-1-1, was voted in as vice president, leaving his post as Legislative Issues Director vacant.
Cychosz was recommended by President Katie Kloth, and was voted in by the required three-fourths vote of the senate according to the constitution.
“He’s the right person for the job. I know I have said it before, from a personal level we differ ideologically,” said Kloth during the meeting. “He is really interested in embodying the spirit of shared governance and actually utilizing people’s input and doing what the vice president is there to do in terms of organization and representation on committees.”
Cychosz will replace Vice President Erika Wardle who resigned before the beginning of the semester for unknown reasons.
According to Kloth, Wardle supported the recommendation of Cychosz in her resignation letter.
However, dissent came from Senator Sam Glenzer who spoke against Kloth’s recommendation.
“I will remain stubborn on this. I don’t think the guy has enough senate experience to do it,” said Glenzer. “I have no other propositions because it’s Katie’s job to appoint someone and I just don’t agree with the appointment.”
Cychosz has been involved with senate and has served as Legislative Issues Director since the middle of last semester.
In the first round of voting, a senate member cast a vote for “Kirk” as opposed to the required “yay” or “nay” votes. This vote was considered invalid after a recess was taken to analyze the situation. The speaker of the senate Saul Newton called for a recount.
A second vote was cast resulting in an 11-2-1 vote. This did not meet the required three-fourths vote of the entire senate which was needed for the approval.
A third vote was cast due to a motion to reconsider made by Glenzer.
“I realize we are in a situation where we really... need someone to step in as vice president,” said Glenzer. “I think that if everyone helps him out I think that he’ll be fine. Because the point is we need the position filled. It’s more important to have someone in there now than to just dilly daddle about qualifications.”
Discussion continued on the floor.
“I just really want, either way you vote, it’s because you think that he’s the right one. Not because the position needs to be filled,” said student senator Rod King.
Cychosz said, “I am here to do the work. I’ve already spoke[n] to it. This isn’t the way anyone wants to be vice president but we need to fill the position, and we need to do the work.”
The election process for SGA student body president, vice president, as well as senators for next school year is currently under way. Applications can be found at the SGA Web site at http://www.uwsp.edu/stuorg/sga.
