Sticks and stones may break bones, but words will never hurt Student Government Association President Cade Cypriano because this year, it is perfectly fine to call him a “lame duck.”

At the end of the year’s Student Government Association election season, Cypriano, political science senior, will be the first SGA president to sit in office until the official end of the 2008-2009 school year.

In previous years, the SGA president would remain in office until the swearing in of the new executive and legislative members, or four days after the declaration of the winners.

According to Cypriano, the new presidential and vice presidential terms will span from the when the winners are declared until the end of the school year — a period of about three or four weeks.

Cypriano said this idea has been brought up in years past, but this year he thought it would be a good idea to put it in to effect.

“One of the most important elements in ensuring that you have a successful SGA is continuity, and the success of a transition between presidents,” Cypriano said.

Cypriano said the change was necessary because it would not only make the transition easier on the students and administration, but also on the outgoing and incoming executive boards.

“You would have a president-elect and an outgoing president and they weren’t familiar with one another, and there would be a lack of communication,” Cypriano said.

Maria Rossi, College of Humanities and Natural Science senator and SGA Constitutional Review chairwoman, said the decision was an easy one for the senate.

“Everyone pretty much agreed, and I really hope this works,” said Rossi, English writing sophomore.

According to the presidential and vice presidential terms of office, Article X, Section 4, of the SGA Constitution, ‘the president and vice president shall hold office from the completion of their Oath of Office, which will be administered on the date of his/her installation, through the date of his/her successor’s installation the following academic year, except through resignation or impeachment from office pursuant to Article XII.’

The previous constitution said:

“The President and Vice President shall hold office from the date of his/her installation in April of one year through the the date of his/her successor’s installation in April the following academic year, except through resignation or impeachment from office pursuant to Article XII.”

Cypriano said the change is an amendment, not a policy.

“It’s not actually a policy, it’s a constitutional amendment, and it was voted on by the senate, so it’s not an executive order,” Cypriano said.

Cypriano also addressed those who say this is just a way for him to stay in power.

“It’s not for me. It will last forever. It’s not something that will only take place this year, and it’s in no way to say that I’m trying to cheat power,” Cypriano said.

“The point of it is to make sure power is transferred away from the outgoing executive in a manner that benefits students.”

Jaune Jackson can be reached at [email protected].