The Daily Athenaeum
By: Charles Young
SGA leaders vote to create Fall Break
Members of the Student Government Association Board of Governors passed a highly debated proclamation Wednesday in support of regulating the permit process for the coal industry.
The proclamation, which supports the organization "FACES of Coal," states West Virginia University's SGA supports the regulating of Section 404 permits.
The permits allow individual coal mines to be in operation. There is currently an ongoing backlog of Section 404 permit approvals that could jeopardize jobs, economic opportunity and coal production throughout the state, according to the proclamation.
SGA called upon the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the President's Council on Environmental Quality, the state Congressional delegation and local government officials to support coal production and the 90,000 jobs the industry creates.
The proclamation was read by acting chairman Gov. Charlie Russel, who opened discussion to members of the BOG. SGA Vice President Ron Cheng was absent due to illness.
"As student leaders, sometimes we are called to make difficult decisions, and I would urge passing this as it benefits a majority of our student body," said SGA Chief of Staff Daniel Brummage.
Some members of the board, as well as some executives, objected to the resolution due to coal's impact on the environment.
"I would like to rise as a student in opposition of this proposal and say that it does not accurately represent the student body as a whole. Coal is not a sustainable resource," said Ben Seebaugh, president of the SGA subsidiary group, Student Advocates for Legislative Advancement. Seebaugh acted as attorney general during the meeting.
Gov. Jason Bailey joined the discussion to remind the members of the BOG of the difference between an official resolution and an informal proclamation.
"Proclamations really hold no real power," Bailey said.
According to the Student Body Constitution, the BOG may propose proclamations for statements that have an indirect influence on members of the student body and to give praise or support for a cause.
Resolutions are reserved for actions that directly influence members of the student body.
"I think it's kind of hypocritical of you all to vote in total support of coal and not even pass anything in support of stainability," said one student in the audience.
Also at the meeting, members of the BOG passed a resolution supporting the addition of a fall recess.
This break would occur before the Thanksgiving recess and would not affect the lengths of any other breaks. The resolution also discourages professors from assigning homework over the proposed break.
During last week's meeting, the BOG tabled a similar resolution in support of the break so they could to work on its language.
The issue will go before the WVU Calendar Committee for approval. If passed, the break wouldn't come into effect until the 2012-13 school year.