USG's political affairs dept. reverses decision to secede

"Formerly the organization had decided to secede from USG," Sprague said. "Even veteran members have had a change of heart."

Sprague, who was recently elected as director by the members of the department, told the senate the group had voted to change its decision to leave USG after changing leadership and reorganizing.

The department voted to secede in October after the senate denied it funding for a trip because the department did not benefit enough students.

At that meeting, several senators suggested the department did not belong in USG.

"Not only do we want to halt this secession process," Sprague said, "we intend to go further and reverse it." The department will not only stay in USG, Sprague said, but will prove itself vital to the administration by acting as a reference on national and international issues for USG, as it was originally intended.

The department has already begun to show improvement, said USG Senate President Mark Sosnowsky at the meeting.

It is now up to the department to outline a feasible plan that will benefit the students, said USG Vice President Ed Kilpela.

He added that he is encouraged by the new leadership in the department and by the possibilities it could have.

The fate of the department still lies with the new administration, which will be elected on April 2.

According to the proposed constitution, the USG president has the power to create or dissolve any executive department.

-- by Patricia K. Cole