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The Rice Thresher
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by Elizabeth Decker thresher staff
The changes, which were approved by the Student Association Senate Monday, have already been approved by the Honor Council and the Assistant Dean of Student Judicial Affairs as required by the constitution. The changes made to the constitution were presented Sunday night to students at an open forum headed by Honor Council Chair Jeff Charbeneau, a Jones College senior. The major change in the constitution is an increase in the number of graduate student representatives on the council. The Graduate Student Association president will now have the option to appoint between four and 10 graduate student representatives. This change was instituted to equalize the ratio of graduate students to undergraduate students serving on the council. Previously, there were 22 undergraduates and four graduate students. Graduate students make up about 40 percent of the student population at Rice. In addition, the office of trial clerk was removed from the constitution because several members fulfill the duty of writing abstracts. Other changes were almost entirely grammatical and mechanical. Gender-specific language was also neutralized. At the forum, it was suggested that the position of ombudsman be further defined in the constitution. Concerns were raised that many people accused of violating the Honor Code expect their ombudsmen to help advise them, like a trial lawyer, when their actual role is only to answer any questions that the accused may have and to clarify Honor Council procedures. Ombudsmen are student volunteers selected by the council. It was decided that the role of ombudsmen did not need further clarification in the constitution itself. Honor Council Secretary Aaron Martz, a Brown College junior, said he and other members of the Honor Council have been working on this revision of the constitution for several months. To go into effect, the constitution must be voted on by 20 percent of the student body, and approved by two-thirds of the voters.
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