Attention ASU: Constitution-ratifiers wanted.
No, this is not a call for students to help re-enact the historical U.S. Constitution signing that took place in 1787. It is a call from the Associated Students of Arizona State University Downtown, ASASUD, asking students to help make modern history by ratifying a newly drafted constitution for the Downtown Campus.
ASASUD members say they have worked long hours for nearly a year writing a constitution that will represent students at the Downtown Campus.
ASASUD Vice President Ashley Sherman said, in an e-mail interview, that the organization researched "other collegiate student government constitutions in order to draft an original piece that would reflect the needs of our downtown campus."
Drew Cameron, ASASUD public relations co-officer said the nine members working on the constitution had meetings over the last year that usually lasted about six hours in order to draft the document.
"There were a lot of different opinions and arguing that came about because we are all passionate and opinionated," Cameron said. "But eventually we came to a consensus."
Now ASASUD needs the opinions of students at the Downtown Campus, so that University administration can pass the constitution.
Sherman said the student government "knows that the passing of this constitution cannot be possible unless we receive the diverse opinions of our fellow students."
"It is necessary for them to voice their own personal and academic needs to the Downtown Phoenix campus, so similar [concerns] will not be addressed in the future," she added.
Keith Kilgore Jr., ASASUD public relations co-officer, said the purpose of the student constitution is to make students aware of "rights that a lot of students don't know they have."
Cameron said that with the new constitution in place, students could meet with the General Assembly if their rights are violated.
He said students will be able to take up certain issues "that the University administration might just sweep under the rug."
"We represent [the students]," Cameron said. "If they have any problems, they can come to us."
Without a student constitution, University administrators handle grievances.
Sherman said: "The constitution will enable students to learn how to practice their democratic rights in America while at the same time helping to build the Downtown Phoenix campus."
Students can provide feedback in three forums held at the Downtown Campus: March 25 in UCENT 107 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.; March 26 in the Residential Commons from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; and March 27 in UCENT 107 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Each forum will last about an hour and ASASUD T-shirts will be given away to the earliest arrivals.
Reach the reporter at: ksarver@asu.edu.
