As the Oct. 18 meeting of the Student Government was called to order Rodrigo Coutino resigned as the student body president. Before the senate, that appeared surprised, and several students present, Coutino interupted Vice President Sofia Sanmiguel with a point of order before making his resignation known.
It is not clear if the resignation was made known in advance to the student senate or to the Student Government advisor, Denis Koch. However, it was announced at the meeting that the resignation would be accepted effective immediately.
Coutino, who also serves as president of the A&M System’s Chancellor’s Advisory Board, said that he needed more time to focus on system wide issues and “strongly” urged for someone not as busy as him to take office.
Upon clarification of the line of succession to the office, Sanmiguel indicated that she had no intensions of filling the seat left vacant by Coutino.
A student present at the meeting however disagreed with the madame vice president’s comments and said, “it is your responisbility to fill the seat as vice president.”
Coutino’s resignation came amid a rumored impeachment vote that was to take place during the meeting against him. It is not clear if that is what lead Coutino to resign.
“The office of the president is to be filled by the vice president in due case of a vacancy is what our constitution states,” said Student Court Chief Justice Laura Pena. “If Vice President Sanmiguel is to accept the position, then it is up to her to make an appointment to the office of vice president within 30 academic days or it becomes the job of the senate to do so.”
Amongst those likely to be appointed if Sanmiguel accepts to finish out the term of Coutino is Alfredo Jimenez, current secretary of the student senate.
There was no immediate reaction from the advisor, who was present at the meeting, unlike last year when a similar move to impeach the previous Campus Activities Board President was haulted by their advisor. Both advisors work in the Office of Student Activities.
Campus Activities Board and the Student Government are university funded bodies overseen by the Office of Student Activities, which falls under Student Life.
After the resignation was accepted and business returned to the agenda at hand, Vice President Sanmiguel indicated that the incident was a wake up call for the student representative body. She indicated that the group should reconcile their differences and work together to make the remainder of their terms a success.
Coutino’s letter of resignation:
Dear Secretary Jimenez,
Due to my election as President of the Chancellor’s Student Advisor Board by the Student Body Presidents of the Texas A&M University System, I will not be able to continue my term as Student Body President of Texas A&M International University. I urgently require more time to focus on systemwide issues. I stongly believe that someone who is not as busy as I am should take care of local matters. By copies of thhis letter to the Chief Justice and the Sergeant-At-Arms, I am advising both the Senate and the Judicial Branch, of this issue.
Sincerely,
(Signed) Rodrigo CoutinoPresident/ChairmanChancellor’s Student Advisory BoardTexas A&M University System