The Student Union Senate impeached Union Secretary Diana Aronin '11 and censured Union President Andy Hogan '11 Saturday night for failing to introduce a constitutional amendment to the student body to create the position of midyear senator.The resolution to impeach, which was passed by a unanimous vote, states that Aronin "willfully corrupted and violated the duties set forth to her in the Constitution." Article XII, Section 5 of the Student Union Constitution reads, "The amendment referendum vote shall occur within fifteen academic days after the presentation of the amendment referendum proposal to the Senate."

Former senator for the Foster Mods Jon Freed '09 (GRAD) had drafted a proposal to create the position last semester. A resolution to support the creation of the midyear senator position was passed Nov. 22. The resolution was submitted by Ex-Village Quad Senator and midyear Leigh Nusbaum '11, Senator for the Class of 2012 Brendan Fradkin, Senate Representative to the CRC Ryan Fanning '11, Castle Quad Senator Mark Trilling '12, Senator for the Class of 2011 Michael Newborn and Foster Mods Senator Amy Mandel '10.

According to an e-mail from Chief Justice of the Union Judiciary Judah Marans '11, " At the beginning of next semester the Union Judiciary will hear a case to 'try [Aronin] for such breach of constitutional duties as were levied in the Senate vote'" under Article X, Section 2 of the Union constitution.

Aronin declined to comment on the matter.

In a previous e-mail to the Justice, Aronin wrote that no amendment had been introduced to the student body because "we are still deciding whether we are just going to include it in the constitutional review process."

Hogan was censured for asking Aronin not to submit a referendum to the student body for a vote, but no impeachment proceedings have been pursued. According to the motion to censure, Hogan "broke the trust of both the Student Union Senate and Brandeis University Undergraduate Student Union" when he recommended that Aronin "intentionally withhold information from both the Senate and Student Union."

In an interview with the Justice, Executive Senator Jenna Rubin '11 said that the censure constitutes "a public statement that states that we are disappointed and we disapproved of the actions that [Hogan] took." The censure passed with one opposing vote.

Rubin said, "We are hoping that with this censure, we can move forward next semester and continue working with Andy and build a relationship between Senate and [executive] board."

In an official e-mail statement, Hogan wrote, "I look forward to working with the Senate to make this right, and working as hard as we can next semester to fight for what students want." Hogan declined to comment further.

Nusbaum said in an interview with the Justice that the votes to impeach Aronin and censure Hogan "was a very hard decision to come by." She said that the Senate voted as it did "out of the fact that we as a body were concerned about the fact that Diana did not follow the timeline, as we interpreted the constitution."

Nusbaum added that "as an ex-midyear, I hope [the resolution to create a midyear senator position] gets included somehow, even in constitutional review or as an amendment.