News Summary
Sawyer Bagley, a Texas A&M University senior, has filed a lawsuit against the Student Senate, claiming egregious violations of the Student Government Association Code. The lawsuit alleges a lack of transparency, improper attendance tracking, and unconstitutional actions taken by the Senate. Bagley seeks to halt their operations and declare passed legislation unconstitutional due to procedural violations. This case has sparked a significant debate on accountability and representation within student governance.
Texas A&M Student Files Lawsuit Against Student Senate
In College Station, Texas, a Texas A&M University student, Sawyer Bagley, is making headlines with a lawsuit against the Student Senate. As a senior studying Electronic Systems Engineering Technology and an associate justice on the university’s Judicial Court, Bagley is taking a stand he believes is critical for student rights and governance.
Bagley’s lawsuit claims that the Student Senate, along with its chief officers—the speaker and speaker pro-tempore—has been engaging in actions that are not just questionable, but “egregious violations” of the Student Government Association (SGA) Code and their own expected duties. He wants the court to toss out any decisions made by the Senate during its current, and already tumultuous, 77th Session that kicked off back in April 2024 and wraps up next month.
Why the Lawsuit? The Allegations
The crux of Bagley’s argument is that the Student Senate has either been inept or is intentionally hiding important details and actions from students. According to his petition, which he made public through The Battalion, there are serious accessibility issues when it comes to legislation and records of meetings. For instance, he points out that the last recording of a meeting is a staggering 46 weeks old, leaving students in the dark about what is happening in their governance.
Furthermore, attendance records for the Senate’s current session have not seen an update since October 18, 2024, igniting accusations of improper attendance tracking. In a surprising twist, Bagley identified 49 senators whose attendance records show they missed more sessions than they should have, indicating a lack of accountability and a system that allows for neglect of duties. Out of these, he argues that 16 senators should face removal due to their abysmal attendance.
The Struggle for Transparency
In his petition, Bagley doesn’t hold back in criticizing the outdated nature of the Senate’s constitution and SGA Code. He highlights that the SGA Code is missing the signature of the rules and regulations chair, which raises questions about its validity. Additionally, he asserts that changes made by the Senate—specifically granting certain positions guaranteed seats on the Student Affairs Fee Advisory Board—are unconstitutional since those changes are not supported by their governing documents.
Not stopping there, Bagley also challenges a recent initiative known as the Student Fee Review Bill, claiming it oversteps the Senate’s bounds. He alleges that this piece of legislation tries to create an advisory committee that falls well outside the Senate’s purview. This brings into focus the crucial issue of accountability: if the Senate is overreaching, how can students trust that their interests are genuinely being represented?
What’s Next?
With the lawsuit officially titled Bagley v. Student Senate, the future of the Student Senate hangs in the balance. Bagley is not just stopping at asking for forgiveness; he is seeking a formal reprimand for any senators who have blatantly neglected their responsibilities. Additionally, he is looking for an injunction against any Senate activities until these violations are rectified, effectively halting their operations.
What’s particularly interesting is Bagley’s request for the court to declare all legislation passed during this tumultuous session unconstitutional if they didn’t follow proper procedures. He also aims to lay down the groundwork for potential impeachment of senators found guilty of severe neglect towards their oaths.
As news of this lawsuit spreads across campus, the current chief justice has not responded to inquiries regarding the unfolding situation. For students, this could be a pivotal moment, one that underscores the importance of transparency, accountability, and the right to voice concerns within their government. Only time will tell how this legal battle will shape the future of student governance at Texas A&M.
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Additional Resources
- NBC Sports
- Wikipedia: Texas A&M University
- Aggies Wire – USA Today
- Google Search: Texas A&M basketball news
- Good Bull Hunting
- Google Scholar: Texas A&M lawsuit Student Senate
- Gigem Gazette
- Encyclopedia Britannica: NCAA March Madness
- College Football News
- Google News: Texas A&M student lawsuit
