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Motion to overturn the impeachment of Ortmann fails
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The Associated Students of Boise State University Senate held a critical vote to overturn the impeachment of ASBSU President Amy Ortmann at its Thursday, Nov. 1 meeting. The Senate also heard from a special guest in the Student Union Lookout Room. Boise State President Bob Kustra addressed the Senate and discussed the university’s role within the state of Idaho.
The vote and the selection
During Open Business of Thursday’s meeting, Sen. Seren Horton moved to overturn the impeachment of President Ortmann.
“I realized that I don’t think it’s right,” Horton said.
Vice President Mark Getecha called a recess to examine Robert’s Rules of Order for the proper overturning procedure. It was decided that the motion could be overturned within a certain number of days of the original motion. The number of days is open to interpretation.
When the meeting resumed, Sen. Brian Lawatch mentioned that most of the students that had spoken in support of Ortmann were part of the Greek system. Lawatch said that the opinions being voiced do not represent all those on campus.
“When I talk to other students at Boise State, they have a different view,” Lawatch said.
Sen. Jessica Martin inquired whether the origin of every opinion stated in meetings would be examined.
“I would like to say that although we are the voice of the students, we are protecting the integrity of this institution,” Sen. Angelica Garcia said.
After a lengthy debate, Getecha selected a ballot vote to determine whether Ortmann’s impeachment would be overturned. The vote was four yes and 10 no. The motion failed and the impeachment process will continue.
Sen. Mariah Fowler then moved to select Sen. Evan Meriwether as the complainant for the Senate. Sen. Ashley Callis stated that the Senate should select someone whose opinion was more in the middle. Meriwether originally moved to impeach Ortmann and is outspoken on the subject.
Fowler defended her choice of Meriwether, listing his history in debate as a key reason.
No other senators volunteered for the job of complainant. The vote was nine yes, three no and two abstain. The motion passed.
“I would like to wish Evan the best of luck,” Sen. Gabe Murphy said. “This is a serious issue and I respect you for taking it upon yourself.”
The other president
Kustra began with a brief history of Boise State, including stories of past alumni who credit the university with their success. He discussed Boise State’s increasingly positive reputation across the region.
Recruitment seemed to be the major theme of this address. Kustra asked the senators to assist the Admissions Department in recruiting the finest of Idaho’s students.
He also stressed that Boise State is not just looking for academically and athletically strong students.
“I’d like to see Boise State recruit students who are good citizens in everything that they do,” Kustra said.
He cited a statistic from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. This organization gives grades to each of the 50 states based on the percentage of students (ages 18-24) who go immediately from high school to a post-secondary education.
Idaho ranked last, with only 26 percent of students seeking a college education.
“I don’t care if you’re going into ranching or electrical engineering, you need some form of post-secondary education,” Kustra said.
The president then opened the discussion to questions from the Senate. These questions ranged from student organization offices and housing to Boise State’s future as a “metropolitan research university of distinction.”
“At the minimum, we should be helping the rest of Idaho understand who we are,” Kustra said.
Gallery comments
Students Emily Dickon and Liz Gerdeman addressed the Senate in support of Ortmann. Both students stated disappointment with the Senate’s decision to impeach the president.
“I think we focus on too much of what she hasn’t done rather than what she has,” Dickson said.
Former Senators Ryan Cooper and Pam McGee also spoke to the Senate. Cooper stated his opinion of the impeachment proceedings, agreeing with the Senate’s decision.
According to Cooper, Ortmann received payment without doing her job, and needs to resign or undergo impeachment.
Cooper lost the presidential race to Ortmann in spring 2007.
McGee was asked to attend the Senate meeting in order to explain an ASBSU pay-raise that occurred during her term in 2002.
She explained that this raise covered the work that certain positions were required to do during the summer.
Summer projects were to include planning the leadership retreat and hiring an executive staff.
The Senate also heard from Joseph Blanchard, the government relations director for the student government at University of Alaska, Fairbanks. He has been observing ASBSU during the last week, and shared his findings with the Senate. He also shared his opinion of the upcoming impeachment.
“Just make sure that the conditions of that impeachment make your government stronger than it would have been otherwise,” Blanchard said.
CHARLOTTE TAYLOR
Assistant News Editor