SSDP DENIED RECOGNITION

SA Votes Down Group in Unscheduled Meeting

DeKALB | The Student Association Senate denied recognition to NIU
Students for Sensible Drug Policy in an unscheduled meeting Sunday
evening.

The senators voted 12-9 to deny the motion to recognize the
organization as a social advocacy group.

NIU SSDP was allowed to hold a meeting Thursday in the Campus Life
Building, but will now be unable to meet on campus.

The SA Senate originally voted on Oct. 24 to postpone SSDP's
recognition until Nov. 7 pending its reclassification as a political
organization. No vote was made Nov. 7 because SSDP did not go to the
meeting.

A letter sent of behalf of NIU SSDP to NIU President John Peters Nov.
18 alleged the SA Senate violated the U.S. Constitution in its
treatment of the group.

Senator Austin Quick, who voted for recognition, said he was surprised
that NIU SSDP was not recognized Sunday.

"I think with all the fear and blatant disrespect towards the SA
Senate, it upset enough senators to sway their votes," Quick said.

Senator Khiry Johnson said he voted against the motion to approve NIU
SSDP because they did not make changes to their application after
their initial recognition postponement.

"I felt like they didn't respect our decision the first time nor
did they take our critiques seriously," Johnson said.

Jeremy Orbach, president and founder of NIU SSDP, said he and his
legal counsel will review their options to pursue legal action against
the SA Senate.

Orbach said he was surprised the motion failed.

"Apparently, nobody is taking this seriously; hopefully someone will
start paying attention soon." he said.

Out of 38 senators, only 22 were present for Sunday night's meeting.
The meeting wasn't called to order until 6:08 p.m. in order to wait
for enough senators to make quorum.

The quorum for the SA Senate is 50 percent plus one person, or 20
senators. This number is needed in order for the SA senate to conduct
official business, according to the operating procedures of the SA
Senate.

SA President Erik Calmeyer said in an executive report that the SA
will offer travel packages to students to see NIU Football at the
Humanitarian Bowl Dec. 18. The information is available is available
on the NIU Athletics website.

The next SA Senate meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Jan. 3