Centre Halls Undergraduate Student Government Senator Rick Gallo was brought up for dismissal from the USG senate Tuesday night because he missed too many senate meetings. The senate voted 13-11-1 against dismissal.

Three weeks ago Gallo, a member of the Navy reserves for the past four years, received 24-hour "red alert" notification for duty in the Persian Gulf, Gallo said.

"I have to be able to get back to my home address within 24 hours and then be ready to leave in another 24," Gallo said.

Since Gallo received the notice, he has been under constant stress and in fear of being called to duty, he said.

Partly because of this pressure, Gallo has missed all of the USG Senate's meetings this semester except for Tuesday's meeting, Gallo said.

Gallo also has not performed his job as liaison to the Association of Residence Hall Students or attended any USG committee meetings, Senate Vice President Eric Smith said. No absences were backed by a written excuse or explanation, Smith said.

Gallo was brought up for dismissal last week, but town Senator Jim Ryerson requested the vote be delayed until Gallo wrote to the senate and explained.

When Gallo came to Tuesday's meeting and still did not have a written excuse, pressure to dismiss him increased.

"It's a crock," Ryerson said. "He hasn't produced a piece of paper -- not a note out of all the absences he knew he wasn't going to be here."

However, Gallo said the military would not allow him to write an explanation of his situation because of a possible threat to national security.

Gallo pleaded to remain as a senator, calling being a senator one of the last things he has in his life besides school and family. He explained that although he is living under constant pressure, he can handle his USG duties from now on.

"It's a little bit melodramatic for my taste," said West Halls Senator Chris Markham.

West Halls senator Mark Stewart agreed, saying Gallo's plea was "bullshit" and his situation not as life-threatening as he made it seem.

But his absence was caused by a kind of stress no other senator can relate to, said town Senator Mike Snider.

"We have no idea of the military's requirements," Snider said.

But town Senator Joe Atkinson said, "You have a responsibility to this body, you have a responsibility to the students that elected you."

Ryerson also said he was disappointed with the decision.

"The senate's proved that no one will be removed from the senate for any reason," Ryerson said.

Others said his situation could not be so drastic as to not even leave a note of explanation in the USG office. Even though Atkinson's brother-in-law could also be called to duty at any time, Atkinson said the military does not forbid him from writing about the situation.