RAK Writes Constitution, Holds Elections

By Connect Mason Reporter Rachael Dickson

As George Mason students in Virginia get ready to cast their vote for student body president next week, the students of the Ras Al Khaimah campus are taking steps toward creating a more effective Student Government Association.

A new GMU-RAK constitution has been drawn up to meet both GMU-US and United Arab Emirates rules and regulations. Acting Director of the Student Affairs Department Nicholas Hamilton-Archer, of GMU-Fairfax, helped students write the constitution.

“We have had the ratification of the SGA constitution take place [by online vote], and thankfully got enough people to have the process continue,” RAK student Saurabh Saraswat, who was involved with the constitution writing process, said when he was contacted by Facebook. “It’s going forward now.”

The first SGA election at GMU-RAK was held in May 2007, under the supervision of a former dean and another former University Life staff member. Candidates campaigned, debates were held and votes were cast just like the election process at the Virginia campuses, said Student Affairs administrator Ayyam Zaid Al Anqar, but problems developed quickly.

“The whole election process was done without any duly pre-set constitution, which was a huge mistake as the elected SGA duties and the governing rules were undefined and unknown in some other aspects,” Al Anqar commented by e-mail. “Moreover, there was no budget allocated. Consequently, the current SGA was incapable to act actively and efficiently.”

The new constitution will help clarify the purpose and duties of the organization and its officers, and will also set out rules for membership, meetings and impeachment proceedings.

• The constitution reads:
  "The purpose of the SGA is to foster mutual understanding and cooperation in the interest of SGA at GMU-RAK Campus and other student organizations and clubs; coordinate the activities of the GMU-RAK Campus Student body with those of the Administration, Faculty and the SGA; develop positive relationships between all students and with administration; and to promote an environment of growth, culture exchange and friendship among students of all backgrounds."

Students may run for the offices of president, vice president, treasurer and secretary in the Executive Council. A faculty adviser will also sit on the Executive Council.

“All registered academic students at the university shall be eligible for voting membership in the SGA at GMU-RAK campus,” the constitution says, with voting membership contingent on the attendance of at least two meetings a semester. Meetings will be held at least once a month, with the president holding power to call special meetings.

Forms for this year’s election must be filled out with enough votes obtained to enable candidates to reach the final debates by April 15. Candidates will begin their campaigns and will participate in up to two debates. The election on April 24 will be conducted by ballot.

“What I guess all of us take from that experience is that SGA is extremely important for all students, that is they want to have a say in what is going on in their university,” said Saraswat, a presidential hopeful. “I've got ideas and the willingness to proceed but let’s see how it turns out and I guess I'll take it from there.”