The Student Judiciary postponed a ruling that would remove Associated Students of Madison Vice Chair Beth Huang and committee chair Niko Magollan from student council Wednesday.
The SJ voted to remove Huang and Magollan Tuesday following campaign violations by both representatives last spring.
Huang said she and ASM Nominations Board Chair Magollan both ""dorm stormed,"" or canvassed in student housing, during their spring election. A Witte Hall resident filled a case against them last spring, and both representatives were sentenced to 20 hours of community service and required to write a letter of apology.
According to Huang, she and Magollan complied with the requirements, but the SJ ruled they did not submit the hours on time.
Huang said the service hours had to be completed by Sept. 15, and she submitted her times the night of the 15th.
""I guess there are two differing interpretations of what ‘by' means, whether it means ‘before' or ‘on,'"" said Huang, who plans to appeal the ruling in the near future.
Until that time, Student Judiciary Justice Kathryn Fifield has postponed the ruling to ""make sure the normal order of business of ASM could continue,"" according to Huang.
Huang said she has ""no idea"" how her appeal will fare before the SJ.
""The gravity of the situation is severe,"" Huang said.
""I think the basic premise is ‘rules are rules,'"" said former ASM Chair Brandon Williams. ""If she violated something, there may have to be discipline.""
According to Williams, the bigger issue is the challenge the sudden removal of two ASM leaders poses to student council.
""This will be a huge blow for [ASM],"" said Rep. Cale Plamman. Depending on where the case goes next, replacing the positions ""could change the entire course of the council.""
The SJ will meet in special session to discuss the case Thursday night.
