The Student Bar Association Senate passed a resolution to amend its constitution, allowing for the organization to vote in two new senators, during a meeting Tuesday.
SBA Sens. Andrew Latham and Rachel Gale co-sponsored a resolution that would allow for the body to create two new senator positions, a 3L transfer senator and another non-J.D. division senator. The new positions would be filled during a special election this spring, according to the legislation.
“Representation is the core of the advocacy that the senate provides,” Latham said. “We are the intermediary between our constituents and the administration. The more voices present, the louder we are and the more difficult it is for them to be snuffed out. It is imperative that this body speak louder now more than ever.”
Gale, the other SBA senator who sponsored the resolution, said as a traditional day student, she does not share the same experiences as her transfer or non-J.D. constituents. She said the students constitute a “significant” portion of the GW Law student body and should be represented in the SBA.
“It is time for these students to have their voices that are heard through an additional non J.D. senator and a 3L transfer,” Gale said.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, SBA President Jacqueline Fisher said the executive committee will meet with law school Dean Dayna Bowen Matthew later this week to discuss Dean Susan Fine’s resignation as dean of professional development and career strategy. Fisher said the executive committee has been hearing “serious concerns” that students lack a functional career center without Fine’s leadership.
Fisher added that the SBA will launch a survey compiling anecdotal data about how Fine’s resignation affects students’ applications to law careers.
“I encourage your constituents to take it,” she said. “It’ll help us target what students need support where and where some of the pitfalls are falling through. And as they’re making decisions about how to restructure the career center with Dean Fine leaving, we see that as an opportunity to really push the student perspective.”
The SBA also unanimously passed legislation to create the Administrative Law Society, a student organization that will work to educate students about administrative law and connect students interested in the subject. Steven Hess, the group’s founder, said the group will have the opportunity to bring in and publicize events with “important scholars.”
“It’s important to every other field that’s going on whether or not you’re doing environmental issues, whether or not you’re doing contracts is important when you’re working with the government,” Hess said. “And it’s going to continue to be working with the government.”
SBA senators also unanimously approved a $400 funding request by the GW African Law Association for a cooking demonstration they will be hosted online later this semester. Sen. Joshua Gilmer, the finance committee chair, said the funds will be distributed to participants to purchase their own ingredients.
“It sounds like a really exciting event,” Gilmer said. “In addition to urging you all to vote in favor of this bill, I also urge you to reach out to the organization and express your interest in their event and attend if you’re able.”
