PSGA Blog Number 10: Former Parliamentarian Zambito Files Impeachment Charges at CoHaD Sabel

This week, the PSGA met and discussed the repeal of the Jaffe Clause, which involves certain formalities regarding the impeachment process. Coordinator of Finance Nico Marceca also brought proposals of funds to the Senate.

Former Parliamentarian Russell Zambito, who submitted his resignation prior to the meeting, proposed the repeal of the Jaffe Clause so that the Senate would be able to discuss the impeachment charges he filed against Coordinator of Histories and Documents Steve Sabel. According to this clause, which resulted from a bylaw written in 2008, an impeachment charge must be filed within 24 hours of the Senate meeting in order to be included in the meeting’s agenda.

Zambito said that the purpose of this clause was to avoid impeachment charges being filed during Senate meetings. He said that since impeachment hearings take precedence over any other discussions, there have been cases in the past in which business matters were delayed because of spur of the moment impeachments.

Zambito officially filed his impeachment charges 19 hours prior to the Senate meeting, and wants to abolish the clause completely. Most senators said they agreed that it was important to file charges significantly prior to the meeting, but did not think that there needed to be a full 24-hour time period. “I think we should shorten the hours, but not propose [impeachments] right before the meeting,” said Senator of Commuters Courtney Heberling.

Others said that it was crucial to have a considerable amount of time between the impeachment charges and the Senate meetings. “Not having this clause really interrupts business,” said PSGA President Kevin Collymore. Senator of Music Matt Dunnam said that it gives those charged with impeachment time to prepare a defense.

A motion was passed to change the time in which an impeachment charge must be filed to 12 hours before a Senate meeting. The impeachment itself, which Zambito filed “on the grounds of nonfeasance and misfeasance,” was discussed in a closed session.

Nonfeasance is defined as “the non-performance of some act which ought to be performed,” and misfeasance means “failure to perform the duty fully; the performing of the duty inadequately or poorly; or failure to perform the duty at all.”

Later in the meeting, Marceca proposed to allocate $500 to cover a salary of $50 bi-weekly to hire a Webmaster for the PSGA Web site. Marceca said that it was crucial to work on the site as soon as possible, because the content has not been updated in two years and the documents were outdated.

He said that the position, which was formerly offered as an internship, did not attract enough student interest. According to Marceca, the job is important enough to make it a paid position.

However, Zambito and Marceca had opposing views. “It’s a waste of money to make it a job,” said Zambito. He suggested hiring someone through a performance contract for the next four weeks, and then offering the internship again in the spring semester. In the end, a motion was passed to approve the money for the Webmaster position.

Cheerleading Coach Erin Lombardi addressed the Senate and asked them to donate $300 for fundraising purposes. She said that the squad only gets $1,400 for the whole team, and only seven out of the 27 members had a full uniform. A motion to donate the $300 for fundraising purposes was passed.