Citizenship Class

What began as a trial for Texas State Student Body President Connor Clegg’s impeachment turned into a sit-in at the LBJ Student Center which, on April 13, had been going on for more than 48 hours. 

A joint meeting of the Texas State Student Body House and Senate on Wednesday failed to meet quorum when almost half of the student senators – 19 – did not show up and one member of the House was absent.

“We need Connor Clegg removed,”  student Tafari Robertson said. “We are prepared for that vote. … But since they chose not to have that vote, we are no longer interested in having that vote.”

Clegg’s removal was just one of the demands the students made. In a press release issued on Thursday, the students asked for a denouncement of the senators who failed to be present at the impeachment trial. They also asked Texas State University President Denise Trauth and her administration to “establish tangible action that will address the needs of students of color, which include: a published timeline for the establishment of a diversity requirement to the general core curriculum; a published timeline for the establishment of Black Studies; a published timeline for the hiring of a full-time immigration attorney; the assembly of a task force of cabinet members, student leaders, and relevant faculty to address any other campus climate issues.”

Trauth held a town hall meeting in response to the protests during the lunch hour on Thursday, but many of the protesters said they were done with meetings and want action.

UPDATE: Clegg was impeached Monday night, only days before his term in office was to end, during a joint meeting of the student body Senate and graduate House of Representatives. He was found guilty on all six articles of impeachment and was removed from office.