Graduate Student Senate chairman Silas DeBoer resigned from his position at noon Tuesday, citing financial reasons, according to DeBoer’s resignation letter.
DeBoer resigned through a one-paragraph letter posted on the “Officers” page of the GSS website. In the letter, Silas states that the position as Chair required too much time for too little pay. He also mentioned recent changes at the Graduate College in financial aid requirements.
Officers of UOSA did not know of DeBoer’s plans to resign and found out from the letter on the website.
Undergraduate Student Congress chairman Brett Stidham said he found out about DeBoer’s resignation through one of his representatives around 3 p.m.
UOSA President Franz Zenteno also said he learned about it from the website and looks forward to working with the vice chair.
The Senate bylaws state that the vice chair of the Senate is supposed to “act in the capacity of the Chair … upon premature termination of the Chair’s term for whatever cause, until the Senate can elect a successor.”
However, GSS vice chairwoman Kiersten Sandfoss has been away from OU for the past month due to an illness, according to reports at weekly Senate meetings.
Sandfoss talks with the executive committee via Skype and sends a proxy to meetings.
Currently, DeBoer’s e-mail account is sending an automated reply, saying he is unavailable and people should address all GSS questions to the officers.
DeBoer also mentioned the need to support his family in his resignation letter.
At Sunday’s Senate meeting, senators voted to suspend the procedural rules about speakers and turn because many visitors wanted to speak.
After the vote, anyone was able to speak his or her mind, leading to emotional displays from both DeBoer and his wife.
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soonerboomers 1 year, 7 months ago
What a fool.
Prometheus 1 year, 7 months ago
so so so sad...