In a referendum vote on Tuesday's ballot, students struck down a provision to compensate Student Congress' two top leaders.
The vote ended with 2,458 students refuting a provision that would allow stipends for the speaker and speaker pro tempore of Congress, while 1,061 students voted to incorporate the provision into the Student Code.
Student leaders in the past have received stipends because of a loophole in the Code. Though Title I, the Student Constitution, prohibits compensation of Student Congress officials, the Code has allowed for the provision of stipends for the two speakers.
The student vote will allow the Student Constitution to stand in its original form, and Congress voted last night to amend the Code to eliminate the loophole.
The Code's contradiction regarding compensation came into focus when Kris Wampler, vice chairman of Congress' Finance Committee, introduced a bill to eliminate the provision of stipends because it was in direct opposition to the Constitution. Title I states that "no Student Congress member shall be entitled to a salary."
The results of Tuesday's vote disappointed some Congress members who think that the magnitude of responsibilities of the congressional leaders merits compensation.
Another concern was that some potential leaders would need the money. "Some people can't afford to go to school without a job," said Speaker Charlie Anderson. "Any way we can open up the position to interested and capable students is good."
Luke Farley, chairman of Congress' Rules and Judiciary Committee, saw the almost 2-to-1 vote as a mandate from the student body against compensation.
"Congress is now obliged to go back and look at all stipends," Farley said. "The students are saying we want you to be careful with our money."
