On March 5,
performers at the
International Banquet
brought many musical
and dance routines to
the stage in the SAC _
Multipurpose Room.
Annual banquet showcases
international dance, cuisine
BY TRACY F. HARRIS
Assistant Managing Editor
tharris@louisvillecardinal.com
Everyone's heard of the story "Around the World in 80
days," but on Saturday night, it was "partially around the
world in two hours;' said Kaushik Nagendran. Nagendran
is the president of the American International Relations
Club, which hosted its annual International Banquet on
March 5.
This year's theme was "Spr~ad the Light," which empha­sized
a common thread between people of all ethnicities.
Nagendran said the night was about "widening cultural
horizons."
The banquet, an annual event for over 20 years, drew
several hundred people to the Swain. Student Activities
Center for food and performances. Food was provided by
local restaurants and included European, Latin American,
Indian, Persian, African, Chinese and North American
CUIS!lle.
Live pre-dinner music, ranging from lounge-jazz to
violin duos, made the clear plastic plates and utensils seem
more like fine china and silver.
The evening's guest speaker, Alvin Herring, is the execu­tive
director of the Muhammad Ali Center for Peacemak­ing
and Conflict Resolution. Herring is also a graduate of
tlre University of Louisville and a former administration
See BANQUET page 4
INDEX
Page
Page 6
SPRING BREAK Page 9
CLASSIFIEDS Page 13
Page14
LETTERS Page 18
Page 19
Two_voting days left
in SGA elections
BY ALLISON M. STRICKLAND
Managing Editor
mstrickland@louisvillecardinal.com
Voting for the Student Government As­sociation
elections began yesterday and will
continue through tomorrow. Although the .
top four positions are uncontested, students
are still encouraged to make their voices
heard.
Current Executive Vice President Bill
Brammell will be President, Nathan Haney
will be Executive Vice President, Sowmya
Srinivasan will be Services Vice President and
Alicia Paez will be Academic Vice President.
Sean Deskins, an associate justice of the
Supreme Court, said that although the top
four are unopposed, voting is still important
because the senators play.a big role in student
government.
"The president and vice presidents focus
on university-wide policy while senators spend
most of their time on their own unit," Deskins
said. "Most senators serve on committees in
their units that· include hiring committees,
admissions and appeals committees, curricu­lum
committees and more. Without senators,
students would be deprived of a voice within
their academic [department]."
Deskins also said that students should vote
because the SGA operates with a $600,000
See ELECTION page 4
SGA senate impeaches Academic Vice President
BY MATTTHACKER
Cardinal StaffWriter
news@louisvillecardinal.com
The seriate voted to impeach Academics
Vice President Sarah Hester last Tuesday with
just over two months left in her term.
Because of the charges brought against
Hester during the impeachment proceedings,
she will now have to stand trial before the
Student Government Association senate.
Denise Gifford, vice president for Student
Affairs, will- lead the hearing scheduled for
March 22 at 8 p.m. According to its constitu­tion,
the SGA must wait a minimum of rwo
weeks between the impeachment and a trial.
Some senators argued the impeachment
would unfairly damage Hester's name, but
the proposal overwhelmingly passed despite
needing only a majority vote. A three-fourths
vote would be needed at the trial to remove
Hester from office.
The senators
claimed Hester
missed several
meetings and had
not done her job
adequately. SGA
President Ryan
McKinley said Hes­ter
had appendicitis
earlier in the year
but also added that
'sarah Hester she had made no
contact with him
since the end of January. One senator said
Hester's attendance in class had been sporadic
due to her health problem, although another
said Hester was over-sensationalyzing a past
medical problem to avoid responsibility.
An SGA Senator who wished to remain
anonymous said that Hester has attended
fraternity formals, played in soccer games on
a weekly basis and has gone out to bars -yet
claims to have health problems that have kept
her from her job.
Hester would not comment on the specif­ics
of her health problems, but she did say
medical reasons were why she was unavailable
to fulfill her position.
"I have had a series of very serious health
problems, some of which 'required surgery
and hospitalization," Hester said. "However,
I feel as though my health is improving at
this time, and I am optimistic that I will be
able to continue my duties as Academic Vice
President and finish the semester strong."
If Hester is removed, McKinley will have
the power to appoint a replace-ment. McKin­ley
could go ahead and promote next year's
Academic Vice President Alicia Paez.
"If they need me to do it, yes, I can do
it," Paez said. "Rut I hope that Sarah is able
to finish the semester. I don't see the point in
kicking her our this late in the year."
Sheryl Meier has worked in the SGA office
for 15 years. Meier said she does not remem­ber
an SGA member ever being impeached
and said the last member of the executive
office to resign was Stacy Brooks in 200i
Meier said she rarely sees Hester in the office,
especially compared to the attendance of other
SGA officers, but noted that she has a great
work ethic when there.
"As for her personality, she's the sweetest
girl, and when she's in. the office she's a very
hard worker," Meier said.
Hester's impeachment took e':'eryone py
surprise including McKinley.
He said he sem her "a few" e-mails since
January to which she did not respond, but he
chose not to take action because he already
knew of her illness. Absences are excused with
proper documentation which Hester said she
will provide at the trial.
"I feel ... that nor all senators understand
See SGA BEAT page 3
tJi1 SullivanUniv~rsity IN ON•v 9 MONTHS Kentu_cky's Career University ·-~·~·~~~.;...;.._. .. • ..._ .. ....................... ...
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