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FAMU Senate Finds Student Body President Guilty

By Benjamin Evans III
Black College Wire

Florida A&M University�s Student Senate found Student Government Association President President Larry O. Rivers guilty on six counts of "malfeasance of his duties," and after 4 1/2 hours of deliberation, voted to remove him from office.

Photo credit: The Famuan Associate Chief Justice Avia Trower (Left) prosecutor Jarrett Tyus and Chief Justice Maya Simmons review one of 20 pieces of evidence submitted to the jury during Larry O. Rivers� impeachment trial.

However, Dean of Students Henry Kirby, who spoke for Vice-President for Student Affairs Patricia Green-Powell, said that despite the verdict, which came early on Oct. 2, Rivers would continue to serve as SGA president.

"Larry is still the president," Kirby said.

Student Supreme Court Chief Justice Maya Simmons and Senate President Michael Morton said in a joint statement that Rivers was not the president and would be replaced by SGA Vice-President Virgil Miller.

"As a result of Larry Rivers' conviction on the aforementioned charges, the Student Senate voted to remove SGA President Larry Rivers from office. . . . The new SGA President Virgil Miller may select a new SGA vice-president who shall be approved by the Student Senate with two-thirds vote."

The Senate, which served as the jury in the 90-minute impeachment trial on the evening of Oct. 1, found Rivers guilty on six of seven impeachment charges.

"This is what we came up with as a body and this is what we will stand behind," Senate President Michael Morton said.

In an opening statement, Jarrett Tyus, a senior political science and public management student who served as the special prosecutor for the Senate, explained that he would prove Rivers never advertised open positions in SGA, failed to reappoint people to vacant positions, falsified documents, lied to the Senate on two occasions, violated the students' and SGA officials' right to due process, and failed to adhere to legal precedent provided by the judicial branch.

Tyus also said Rivers violated the Whistle Blowers Law, which states that an employee cannot be fired due to a complaint made about the employer.

Tyus was fired by Rivers as solicitor general two weeks ago.

Rivers, who was not present at the trial and did not send legal representation, said that the impeachment process was invalid and unconstitutional. He submitted a notice of appeal to the Office of Student Affairs on Oct. 2. Rivers said he was appealing the process by which he was removed from office, not the verdict.

"I am in no way defending myself [from] allegations made at an unconstitutional impeachment trial," Rivers said.

Kirby said the notice of appeal was received and that the Office of Student Affairs would act accordingly based on all the facts.

The trial attracted dozens of students.

Tyus asked the jurors not to rely on rumors and to listen to the facts.

"I'm here to tell you that the speculation concerning this case is false. All that is presented tonight will be true. What kind of president would do this to the student body?" Tyus said.

Twenty pieces of evidence were submitted to the 35-member jury.

Benjamin Evans III is a student at FAMU who writes for The Famuan. He can be reached at [email protected].

Posted Oct. 6, 2003