It has been nearly three months since members of the student Senate impeached Gallop Franklin but he still remains SGA President.
The 39th student Senate cited nonfeasance of duties, in particular his failure to select a chief justice for the student Supreme Court in the allotted time.
This action stemmed from a motion carried out by graduate student and senator, Rondrea Mathis.
Since the announcement, Franklin has released a statement addressing the charges against him. In it, he mentioned a special interest group had pressured him to prematurely fill the chief justice’s office. Franklin said he attempted to elect a chief justice, but his attempts were blocked.
A series of vicious rumors continue to surround the charges brought against him.
What many students do not realize in the midst of this controversy is that Franklin still remains president. The impeachment does not officially remove him from office.
Stephanie Pierre, 18, a first-year general studies student from Kissimmee, said that she has not been greatly effected by his inability to carry out his position correctly.
However, Pierre does wonder what role the impeachment has actually played, other than expressing distaste in how Franklin carried out his duties.
“He’s impeached, but he’s technically still president. That makes no sense. He should be removed, not remain in a position where it still looks like he’s running things,” said Pierre.
It truly appears that the impeachment has seemed to have little to no affect on the administration’s power.
Student body Vice President, Calvin Hayes, 21, a fourth year public relations student from Orlando, said, “Being impeached doesn’t mean he will be removed. The removal process has not taken place, therefore (Franklin) will remain in office.”
To further explain the president’s current position, Hayes used the example of former president, Bill Clinton’s 1998 impeachment.
Hayes said, just like Clinton, Franklin retains the right to maintain his position as president. Impeachment is the formal process in which an elected official faces accusations, not the actual removal of the official from his or her position.
“If you remember, Clinton was impeached and continued to work as president. (Franklin) is in a similar situation,” said Hayes.
Despite the fact that simple impeachment proceedings do not actually constitute Franklin’s removal, some appear frustrated that this process has yet to be completed.
Former student senator, Garreth Hubbard, 20, a third year animal science and chemistry double student from Macon, Ga, said, “The Senate has gone about the proper measures to impeach him, so I believe that the removal process should go through.”
For now, it is unclear whether more serious action will be taken, or when Franklin will actually be removed from office.
The first Senate meeting is Monday, Jan. 11 in the Senate chambers.
Franklin could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.
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