The proposed constitution became the official constitution after Thursday’s Student Association election. Just less than 90 percent of students who voted in the election voted in favor of passing the new constitution.

The constitution will implement changes such as adding a speaker of the assembly, who will preside in assembly meetings and aligning SA sessions with the academic year instead of the calendar year. That means president-elect Boris Gresely will serve for three semesters instead of the usual two.

Parliamentarian Ben Jones oversaw much of the process in reworking the constitution and said it felt great that students approved of the changes in the new constitution.

“I was worried putting a whole new constitution on the ballot would be overwhelming and kind of turn people off, but I was very surprised and glad with the turnout,” he said.

Jones said it would take time for the changes outlined in the new constitution to take full effect, but he said he hopes those differences will help SA function more efficiently.

He added that next semester the assembly will review the SA codes, which are more specific rules that govern the way the organization functions.

The Administrative Operations Committee, Jones said, has been looking at the codes and how they can be improved. But the assembly won’t view them until next semester.

Jones said it will be a long process, but he’s hoping to have it all finished by the end of the spring semester.

“It’s another thing that’s really necessary,” he said. “It’s definitely been a long time coming and I’m looking forward to it.”

Turnout this year broke previous records, with about 31 percent of the student body voting. Dan Hernandez, chair of the Board of Elections and Membership, said he didn’t set specific goals for voter turnout, but he was very pleased with the end result.

“I wanted to strive for making it an informed population, not just a big voter population,” Hernandez said. “I think we ended up having an informed and a big population. It surpassed all my expectations.”

Hernandez said sophomores cast the most votes, followed by juniors, seniors and freshmen. He said typically sophomores cast the most votes with upperclassmen casting the least.

Hernandez said he believed the public relations campaigns were successful, and the final turnout was a reflection of the hard work of all those involved in the process.

Published on November 19, 2013 at 12:33 am

Contact Brett: blsamuel@syr.edu | @Brett_Samuels27