Supporters of a group which wants to radically change the current system of student government have collected enough signatures to hold a school-wide referendum, according to one of the group members, Dennis Graham (SFS ’02).
The group seeks to replace the Georgetown University Student Association with a form of government called the Yard. The system of government that the Yard would entail differs from the current system in two central aspects.
First, funding would be allocated to student groups by individual students. Currently, money is allocated by six funding boards, including the Student Activities Commission. Second, the voting body of the Yard would be composed of a member from every student club recognized by the Yard.
According to the GUSA constitution, a group needs to collect signatures and identification numbers from one-fifth of the student body and then must submit the signatures to the GUSA Constitutional Council 21 days before the proposed election date in order to hold a school-wide referendum. The referendum must be voted on by one- fourth of the student body, and 50 percent of that fourth must vote affirmatively for the referendum to pass.
Graham said that he and other Yard supporters went door to door on campus collecting signatures and educating students about the Yard. He said that neither he nor any other initiator of the Yard planned to run for GUSA president or vice president this year.
Graham said he and other supporters of the Yard met with Vice President for Student Affairs Juan Gonzalez in December to discuss the Yard.
“He was so negative from the start of the meeting. The first thing he asked was if this was a Steward thing … He said that this was not going to happen, that we were not going to get the signatures,” Graham said.
“I encourage the student body to give the Yard proposal consideration. I encourage students to ask what they expect from student leadership and if those expectations are being met by the current structure,” Gonzalez said.
Though the Yard movement has been rumored to be associated with a non-campus group, the Stewards, Graham denied the rumor.
“I am a steward myself. The Yard never originated with the Stewards,” Graham said.
According to various members of the student body, a group called Students Against the Yard may soon form to combat the Yard movement.
“I’ve heard students are prepared to discuss opposition to the Yard and educate students about it,” said Aaron Polkey (CAS ’02).
The Yard constitution states that if the Yard is voted in to replace GUSA, the GUSA presidential and vice-presidential candidates who receive the most votes and who have also signed the Yard petition will be president and vice-president of the Yard.
Potential presidential candidate Ryan Dubose (CAS ’02) said that although he does not support the Yard, he has signed the Yard petition.
“While I don’t agree with [the Yard], it stimulates debate … Student government this year is finally getting on the right track. The Yard would put us back 10 years,” Dubose said.
“The signatures are just for the referendum to appear. It does not mean all those students will vote for the proposal,” according to Ryan Erlich (SFS ’01), a GUSA presidential candidate, last year.
