Marquette Student Government voted last Thursday to approve a new program vice president after the first selection, the secretary of the Residence Hall Association, was deemed ineligible.
Sophomore Jennifer Kolodziej, a political science and journalism double major, was voted into office as the program vice president on Jan. 29.
On Feb. 2, MUSG president Kate Agnew said she was notified of a line in MUSG's constitution forbidding a member of MUSG's executive board to simultaneously serve on RHA's executive board. Kolodziej's term as program vice president began when she was appointed and said her term for RHA ends in April.
Agnew said the rule "unfortunately slipped through (MUSG's) hands" and gave Kolodziej the week of Feb. 2 to decide between MUSG and RHA.
Junior Jess Ripp, a human resources and operation major, was approved to replace Kolodziej on Thursday, said senior Mary Kate Havlik, MUSG legislative vice president.
Ripp said he was notified Feb. 10 that Kolodziej had declined the position.
"I was sad she didn't get the job, but I think the committee (of MUSG officials) made the right choice in selecting me," Ripp said.
After spending this year as film commissioner for MUSG, Ripp said he was looking forward to expanding his role in MUSG.
"I'd like to take a more active role on campus," Ripp said, "and this is something that interests me."
Ripp said the secret to good programming is to have a large group of commissioners whose many ideas will appeal to a broader portion of the student body.
Agnew said Ripp has extensive experience with programming and working with a budget and said some of his accomplishments were bringing in more revenue to the commission by coming up with the idea of bringing blockbuster films to campus.
"I'm excited to have Jess on board," Agnew said. "Iºt's exciting for him to take his job to the next level."
According to Rodriguez, the program vice president directs a program board of 10-11 commissioners, is a member of the MUSG budget committee and manages a $250,000 budget.