Prairie View A&M University
Student Government Association
Student Court
2010-2011 Term
Interpretation of the PV Choice Awards Committee
RULING OF THE STUDENT COURT
Discussion: April 15, 2011 --- Decided: April 15, 2011
Opinion Sent: April 21, 2011
Question Before the Court: Should the PV Choice Awards Committee be placed under the
Student Government Association (SGA) or the Office of Student Activities & Leadership?
Jurisdiction: This case falls under the purview of the jurisdiction of interpretation, as outlined in
SGA Judicial By-Laws: Section II.A.i and the Constitution Article VI.6.
Relevant Facts: The PV Choice Awards was first created and implemented under the
Office of Student Activities & Leadership but years later it went dormant. A former SGA
president decided to reinstate the PV Choice Awards as an event hosted by SGA. Ever
since then, the SGA President has appointed the position of PV Choice Awards Chair and
SGA has funded the PV Choice Awards.
The Student Court questioned SGA President Bobby Smith and Steve Ransom, the
current Director of Student Activities & Leadership and the SGA Advisor.
Christal Gibson, the 2010-2011 PV Choice Chair; Cene Little, the 2009-1010 PV Choice
Chair; and Frederick Roberts, the former Director of Student Activities & Leadership
were asked to come, but did not attend.
Verdict: In response to the question before the court, the Student Court has determined that the
PV Choice Awards Committee should be placed under the SGA Executive Board by a
unanimous 3-0 vote.
Justices: The Court Members who voted to place the PV Choice Awards Committee
under the SGA Executive Board are as followed: Chief Justice Harris D. Brown, Justice
Alysha Sample, and Justice Darius R. Kelley.
No court members dissented.
Majority Opinion written by Chief Justice Harris D. Brown and Justice Darius Kelley: In
deciding this ruling the Student Court came to the conclusion that the PV Choice Awards
Committee be placed under the SGA Executive Board.
Based on the testimonies of the witnesses presented to the Student Court, we found that the PV
Choice Committee shall be placed under the SGA Executive Board because of the following
reasons:
1. If placed under the Office of Student Activities & Leadership it would become an
office event, due to the guidelines that may be placed on the Office of Student
Activities & Leadership by the administrators of the University.
2. If placed under the SGA Executive Board it would remain more of a student event, as
the students would have a more free reign on which performers and entertainers that
they would like to bring.
3. The PV Choice Awards has been deemed as a student ran event and the best way to
keep this event as so, would be to place it under the governance of the SGA
Executive Board.
It is also clear to the Student Court that since placed under SGA, any future President or the
Senate may choose not to actively fund the PV Choice Awards at their discretion.
The President may be able to appoint the chair at any time with the approval of the Executive
Board as described in Executive Board Codes Article V.d.
Sanctions: From this day forth, all PV Choice Committee Chairs and members must follow all
the procedures and guidelines mentioned in the SGA Constitution and Executive Board Code
and any respective by-law and code.
The Executive and Legislative Branch shall hold this court hearing as precedence in any future
disputes or interpretation regarding the PV Choice Awards Committee, in accordance to SGA
Constitution Article VI: 6.6, unless a future court ruling or law amendment says otherwise.
Approved by the Student Court Justices:
On April 21, 2011
__________________________
Harris D. Brown
Chief Justice
___________________________
Alysha Sample
Senior Justice
___________________________
Richsonia Hamilton
Sophomore Justice
___________________________
Brittani Hunter
Junior Justice
___________________________
Darius Kelley
Freshman Justice