As Student Government Association President Cedric Bandoh’s term winds to an end this spring, he kicked off his last semester with two lifetime appointments for Attorney General and Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals Wednesday night in the Senate Chambers of the New UC North.
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Senator David Ghably was confirmed as Attorney General by the Senate. He resigned from his position in the legislative branch and as chair of the Academic Affairs Standing Committee to assume his new role as the president’s legal counsel.
“It’s exciting for sure. The elections are coming up; it’s my last semester, so it’s nice to be completely neutral and not have to worry about reelection and just hopefully get everything smooth this semester,” Ghably said.
Confirmed Chief Justice Fatima Syed, too, has a long history of service at SGA. She began her tenure as an intern, and now, four years later, she has been through several administrations and has been involved at all levels of the judiciary.
“I joined SGA with the hope that I’d be able to make even a small contribution to our campus’s community,” Syed said. “I’m so honored to have been given this opportunity to serve in SGA up to this point, and I’m really excited to assume this position and, hopefully, make some sort of mark on our university before I graduate.”
Bandoh was pleased to have made these appointments, and he looked forward to working with new legal counsel for his final semester.
“I’m honored to have (Ghably) in my cabinet for the remainder of my administration as attorney general, as my chief legal counsel for the organization. I know he’ll do a great job,” Bandoh said. “It’s just another great addition to my top leadership team, and I can’t wait to get him in here.”
These legacy appointments can extend past Bandoh’s presidency, but both candidates said they are looking forward to graduation in May, leaving possible vacancies for the next administration.
Speaker of the Senate Sebastian Agudelo appointed Bruno Ugaz as Sergeant at Arms.
Senators picked back up where they left off late last semester with a bill in support of a Veterans Advisory Committee, which passed without opposition. This bill already has support from administrators and Vice Chancellor and President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services Richard Walker, Bandoh said. The VAC would provide a forum for veterans on campus to offer the University suggestions on how to improve aspects of veterans affairs.
The Senate convenes every other Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., and it is open to the public.
I love how UH rewards know it all people like Fatima who would be useless if not for their fact checking computers and Google search skills.