Bowdoin Student Government has decided not to take a stance on broad political issues, such as Question 1 on the November ballot.
After a lengthy discussion at last Tuesday's meeting, BSG informally voted 19 to 6 to disapprove taking positions.
In defense of taking stances on such issues, Mckesson cited the BSG constitution, which states, "The student government shall be empowered by the student body to be responsible for presenting student opinion."
While President DeRay Mckesson felt it was a way for BSG "to be a part of a bigger community, like Maine," many members felt it was not the student government's place to take a political stance representative of the entire student body.
"It's a fine line we're walking when we're saying something on the larger scale," Vice President of Facilities William Donahoe '08 said.
Andrew Edwards '09 felt that commenting on broader political issues would take away from BSG's main focus, the student body.
In last week's BSG re-elections for the Class of 2007, Justin Strasburger was elected president and Liz Laurits was elected treasurer.
Re-elections were held for the positions of president and treasurer after incumbent Mckesson was disqualified from the elections by the BSG Elections Committee because of his role as the president of BSG.
Derrick Wong '07 made a complaint against Mckesson and Laurits, whom Mckesson had endorsed. Laurits defeated Wong in the re-election by a vote of 147 to 29.
Strasburger defeated his opponent for president, Theo Salter, 97 to 67.
In other business, BSG has given $200 to Sustainable Bowdoin in order to fund the purchase of fluorescent light bulbs, which will be distributed to students in hopes of saving energy costs this winter.
Also, with about $50,000 in funds from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation left for the year, the College is looking to bring in a high profile speaker; Kurt Vonnegut, Senator George Mitchell, and poet Billy Collins were listed as potential options.
In addition, BSG is looking into extending weekend hours at the Dudley Coe Health Center. Also in the works for next semester is a one-card system, with which students could use their Bowdoin card at local Brunswick businesses.