After three weeks of debate, the Student Senate made the decision to continue to allow political parties to exist within the organization as well as remain present on the ballot at its final meeting on Wednesday.

The proposal to ban political parties failed by a vote of 13-11 with one abstention.

Jarrod Scherle, the student executive vice president, said he has been against the proposed ban since it was introduced and while the sponsors claimed it was not a personal attack, he believed it was.

“We are student government, not student council. By definition we are student politicians,” Scherle said. “The current executive board is one of the few that has stayed together all year, we all ran in the same party because we thought we would be the best team to serve the students. Don’t change the rules because you cannot win.”

Lindsay Luttrell, a junior communication studies major, said she did not run with party affiliation and received the lowest number of votes in the recent election.

Luttrell said she was in favor of the ban because she believes Student Senate members should be elected on merit, not popularity.

“Under a large government, political parties are necessary, but we have to remember we are on campus,” Luttrell said. “Student Senate seats should be fought over not just handed over because someone knows someone who is also in the party.”

Along with deciding the issue of political parties, Student Senate members also voted in favor of a constitutional amendment that would require there be a “vote of no confidence” option on the ballot for elections.

The next step in the process is a referendum for the students to vote on. The referendum will take place in the fall.

As is tradition, at the last Student Senate meeting of the semester, Student Senate members elected the Student Senate Speaker.

Mitchell Gurick, a freshman business education major, will be the new Student Senate Speaker for the Fall 2012 semester.

The Student Senate also passed proposals concerning spending for the inauguration of the new student executives as well as funding for two events, which take place during the Fall 2012 semester.

The two events that will take place are the annual First Night celebration as well as the Pantherpalooza event.

First Night will take place Aug. 19.

Panther Palooza will take place Aug. 22.

Amy Wywialowski can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].