I’ve been away from the blog for a little while because we’ve had a very sensitive couple weeks in our Hatchet coverage. I apologize to my blog enthusiasts, but i’m glad to see the comments are still coming and an ongoing discussion is going on among the blog’s readers.
Some interesting things to point out:
-We have not heard a verdict in the Shakour case yet. I have heard a lot of rumors about what is going on, nothing definitive, however. The Hatchet originally reported that a decision would be rendered within 5 business days and since the hearing was Friday the 18th, five business days would have been today, the 29th. A decision may have come down and we haven’t heard about it, or maybe Shakour is appealing a decision, maybe the decision is taking longer than expected to be decided. Any number of factors could explain no verdict yet.
One question is how the verdict will be announced, or if it will be announced. Shakour has admitted to be facing charges of sexual harassment and the recomended sanction for that charge is disciplinary probation. Although, a senior University official told me that an even lesser charge could be given out other than probation, like censure, but that rarely happens. If Shakour, and this if a major if, is put on disciplinary probation, SA guidelines would make him ineligible to continue being SA President.
Eligibility checks are done once per semester by the Student Activities Center and the constitution only gives the SA President the power to call for an eligibility check. So in effect, Shakour may be the only one who can call for a check of himself to be elligible to be President.
-Another interesting note. The colonial coach shuttle premiered last week and I used the service to get to Dulles airport. It worked well, other than the 34 minute delay of the 1 p.m. Tuesday bus because of malfunctions of the bus service.
The service did not, however, provide transportation BACK to campus on Sunday and Monday when most students who took the shuttle to Dulles flew back. Morgan Corr has told me legal contracts with Dulles and other taxi services don’t allow round trip shuttles to operate, only one ways. Rumors are floating that the service may be expanded for winter break, possibly more shuttles or maybe even service to Baltimore/Washington International Airport.
-SA Election Wednesday and Thursday. Students will have an opporutuntity to vote on a new SA constitution on this week, check out our article outlining the changes the new constitution would bring. Student Body to Vote on Changes to the Constitution
-And lastly… a “secret society” on campus distributed flyers early Tuesday morning claiming the SA had been abolished. By Monday many of the flyers had been taken down, I spoke with some members of the society who admitted it was a prank.
Overall, the next couple days should be very interesting in the SA. Voting on a new constitution this week and a verdict in the Shakour case in the near future.
