Student Body President Michelle Murphy has returned from her leave of absence and will conduct the last student government meeting of the semester.

“I’m very strict about noise and making things move along quickly, so I think (the meeting) will be pretty organized and structured and I think people will pay more attention and just bear with me,” Murphy said.

The first item listed on the agenda is the article of impeachment of executive vice president Aaron Weissing.

However, Weissing is resigning from his position, which he will announce during the meeting, so one of the authors of the article of impeachment will motion to pull it from the agenda.

“The (impeachment authors) feel that Mr. Weissing has not fulfilled the job described to him in the student constitution,” Speaker of the Senate Jason Sandidge said. “Their main focus is the student action team because they never met and never set a lobby day to go to Springfield which they are supposed to do once a semester.”

The authors of the article of impeachment are student senators Zach Samples, James Patton, Holly Henry, Rebecca Johnson, John Poshepny and Roberto Luna.

“(The article of impeachment) is disappointing because we thought (Weissing) was the best person fit for the job and due to whatever reasons he was unable to fulfill his duties so, it’s sad that we will be losing him but at the same time people need to be held accountable, especially the executives,” said Alex Boyd, a student senate member.

Murphy will appoint a new executive vice president next semester.

“Aaron thought it was the best decision to resign, and I understand because we are all just students and you have to do what you think is right,” Murphy said. “His job is hard and if he couldn’t handle it or didn’t want to do it or whatever the case was, he reserves the right to resign and I appreciate him doing that if that is what he thinks is best.”

The election results will be revealed at the meeting and the new student senators will be present throughout the entire meeting.

Near the end of the meeting, the incoming student senators will be sworn in and will take their seats.

The first business of the new senators is to elect a new speaker of the senate for next semester. Sandidge is not running to be speaker of the senate for next semester.

“I’m sure (Sandidge) has a great speech planned, and it’s a shame that we are going to be losing him because I feel that he has done a great job and he’s just been so helpful,” Boyd said.

Murphy will say the State of University Address and Sandidge will present the state of the Senate Address.

The three candidates for Speaker of the senate are Alex Boyd, Jarrod Scherle, and Tommy Nierman.

“Each candidate has two people that will speak on their behalf, and they themselves will give a speech and after that they will be subject to two minutes of questions,” Boyd said. “After (the candidates) have gone, there will be a period of discussion and then the senate votes.”

There are two pieces of legislation on the agenda for the meeting.

During old business, the bylaw change for the proper procedure for a senator to approach the Apportionment Board will be voted on.

Also, during new business, a proposal for food and refreshments for Spring 2011 Pantherpalooza will be introduced.

“(The proposal) is asking for $154 for popcorn kernels, popcorn bags, decorations and gift cards,” Sandidge said.

The last student government meeting of the semester will be at 7 p.m. today in the Arcola-Tuscola Room in the Martin King Jr. University Union.

Rachel Rodgers can be reached at 581-7942 or rjrodgers@eiu.edu