Editor’s note: As president, Carter Strickland served as a SGA representative on the OU Publications Board, which oversees OU Daily’s topline matters by establishing, implementing and monitoring editorial, fiscal, production and personnel policies. The Publications Board does not have any say in publishing matters and news coverage.
OU Student Government Association President Carter Strickland resigned from his position Friday afternoon.
In a phone call with OU Daily on Saturday, Strickland said he made the decision to resign because it would be in the best interests of the student government and the university.
“It was not an easy decision by any means, and a lot of thought and a lot of counsel and a lot of advice (went) into this,” Strickland said. “This is not necessarily what I wanted to do, but I thought it would be best for the student government and for the OU students to return to work.”
According to Strickland, Vice President Avery Dunlap has become acting president and will serve as the 60th SGA president.
“I have all the faith and confidence in Avery to continue the great work that we signed up to do, and I know she'll be a great leader,” Strickland said.
In a text message to the Daily on Saturday, Dunlap wrote she will begin the transition process by meeting with members of the executive office of the president on Sunday and SGA’s faculty adviser Monday. Dunlap wrote she will address the Undergraduate Student Congress at its Tuesday evening meeting.
“I am looking forward to serving our student body as President of SGA!” Dunlap wrote.
Dunlap will recommend a vice presidential candidate to the Undergraduate Student Congress, which will vote on the recommendation. If passed in Congress, the recommendation will be seen in the Graduate Student Senate.
Strickland said he is grateful for the support he received throughout his presidency and expressed his love for the OU community.
“I love this university. That should never be questioned,” Strickland said. “I want what's best for this university, and I've always acted in what I believe to be (the) best interest for OU and the students.
“Being president was one of the great honors of my life.”
Strickland said despite his resignation, he plans to continue to serve the university.
“Going forward, I will continue to serve OU and work for OU and support OU. Sooner born, Sooner bred, and when I die, I'll be Sooner dead,” Strickland said. “What senior year has in store for me, I'm not sure. I will still be here as a full-time student, so I'm not going (anywhere).”
Background
Strickland, a political science junior, won the SGA presidential election on Oct. 30 alongside Dunlap, obtaining 91.06% of the vote. Strickland and Dunlap ran an unopposed campaign, the first time for SGA candidates since 2014.
Strickland and Dunlap were inaugurated on Jan. 13. As of Friday, Strickland served as president for just over three months.
Prior to his resignation, Strickland was set to face a trial at the Graduate Student Senate which would have been presided by the chief justice.
On March 26, the Undergraduate Student Congress impeached Strickland on five charges. Strickland is the first SGA president to be impeached in university history.
The five charges were brought against Strickland in a resolution known as the “Resolution for the Impeachment of the SGA President.” The bill, authored by Vice Chair Aaron Gilson-Bond, was co-sponsored by Chief of Staff Ellie Wolthuis, Congress Secretary Chloe Harris, five committee chairs and various other members of Congress.
The five charges were:
• Created a hostile workplace environment while serving as SGA president.
• Failed to act in accordance with the Oklahoma Open Meetings Act and the SGA Code Annotated while serving as SGA president.
• Went against the Chief Justice’s advisement in electing members to search committees while serving as SGA president.
• Neglected his duties to the Legislative Branches while serving as SGA president.
• Hindered the duties and responsibilities of the chief of staff.
The Oklahoma Open Meetings Act is a state law that requires all meetings of public bodies — state, local boards and commissions — must be open to the public, and the public must be given advance public notice of such meetings, including information on the time, place and purpose of the meeting.
All SGA meetings are subject to the Open Meetings Act, per the SGA Code Annotated, and agendas and notices for special meetings must be posted at least 24 hours before a meeting.
The SGA Code Annotated is the governing laws of OU’s SGA and outlines rules, regulations and functions for each branch of the government, elections, finances and more.
This story was edited by Ana Barboza and Ismael Lele.
