After seven hours of heated debate, representatives of the Associated Students of Madison Student Council voted to adjourn before deciding on motions to remove Chair Bryan Gadow and Vice Chair Emily McWilliams.
Representative David Presberry told the council he believed there were 15 votes in favor of the removal. A majority of council representatives, or 16 votes, were needed for the motions to pass.
\This is ridiculous. Your only hope is if [Representative Dan] Dogs votes for you,"" Presberry told the council members in favor of the leaders' impeachment.
The contingent of conservative council representatives who moved to remove the two leaders, cited concern with their handling of fiscal matters and relations with UW-Madison administrators.
Representative Ryan Nichols objected to Gadow and McWilliams' handling of UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley's decision last week regarding funding eligibility of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan. Nichols said he thought the leaders should have actively opposed Wiley's decision to grant the group eligibility.
""I would really work much, much harder knowing that my work is represented,"" he said.
Additionally, some representatives said they think their leaders allowed questionable spending within ASM.
""Our leaders must be able to stop questionable spending within the organization,"" Representative Mark Santi said.
However, Representative Jackie Helmrick, who supported the impeachment, said most of her concerns were restricted to her ideas about the role the chair and vice chair should play. She said she believes the two have worked hard, but should focus their efforts on representing positions of the majority of council representatives.
Representative Brian Jenks disagreed with Helmrick, citing Gadow's success serving as a neutral leader.
Other students said they were concerned that impeaching Gadow and McWilliams would reflect poorly on the university and its student government.
""By removing them from vice chair and the chair this council will lose credibility,"" UW-Madison senior Victoria Bomben said.
Representative Sahar Abdelrahman said she agreed.
""They are one of the bright spots,"" she said.
Other controversial topics on the agenda included an amendment to create a segregated fee opt-out system that would allow students to choose student-funded organizations they do not want to pay for. The motion failed by a vote of 16-9.
Those who opposed the motion cited concern about its legality.
""I'm not going to risk losing autonomous seg fees because we might be challenged in court and we might lose,"" Jenks said.
The council also passed a motion Thursday saying it would not hear a funding request for MEChA. Instead, representatives said they want the chancellor to determine the group's budget allocation.
