Tina Penman never planned to get caught.

Early October in a Davenport dorm, she and a few underage friends were drinking — no different a scene than found on most college campuses. Except this particular weekend, she was caught.

At the last student government senate meeting of the quarter, the executive board and senators were silent as a teary Penman stepped down as the vice president of Academic Affairs.

“It’s an automatic probation sanction for the first offense involving alcohol,” Penman said. “We were drinking. Probation means that I must pay a $50 fine, attend an alcohol class and resign from student government. My parents also receive a letter from the university, and this incident will be noted in my disciplinary record.”

Under probation, “students may not hold any office or position, either by election or appointment, in any recognized student organization or group,” states the university’s Code of Student Conduct.

Because of Penman’s involvement in student government, she had to step down from her position — not knowing when she would return. At the meeting, Penman said it was a real “kick in the butt.”

SGA President Richard Schwabacher said all of the executive members of SGA were aware of Penman’s situation, but there was nothing they could do other than be as supportive as possible.

“Everything that happened was dictated to us. Tina was good enough to keep us informed,” Schwabacher said.

Following her resignation, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Andres Vargas will be taking over her former position, as the group’s constitution dictates.

However, Schwabacher has called for a Joint Senate on Jan. 22 for a possible election process. He says the situation with Penman was unique because most executives step down mid-quarter — not the last senate meeting of the quarter.

In Article IV of SGA’s constitutional bylaws, it states, “special elections may become necessary should an executive board member resign …”

The position of VP for Academic Affairs is in limbo now because it hasn’t been decided if Vargas will have to run against any potential candidates. Schwabacher says the student group would be within its constitutional rights by having an election.

Whichever decision is made, both Schwabacher and Penman see Vargas as a capable candidate.

“Vargas has been heavily involved in student government … and knows the issues within the Academic Affairs Committee, the Co-op Student Advisory Council and the Student Steering Committee,” Penman said.

Schwabacher agrees.

“I think Andres is one of the more capable senators, I have a lot of confidence in him,” he said. “I think he’ll be able to pick up wherever Tina left off. It’ll be just like any other transition period… he’s got great resolve.”

Penman has been focusing her efforts on the upcoming semester conversion slated for Sept. 2003. She said Vargas has been attending meetings with faculty and administrators who are dealing with the conversion.

“The academic plans for this year will not be hindered due to my resignation,” Penman said.

Administrators she has been working closely with are aware of her resignation, but she doesn’t see this as the last time they will work together. Penman says the process of semester conversion will not “simply end in Sept. 2003,” but in fact will take several years to implement.

“It is imperative that the Student Government Association continues to focus on this transition so they can better serve the students they represent,” she said.

According to the organization’s constitution, other duties of Penman’s job as VP of Academic Affairs are to chair the Academic Affairs Committee, address complaints from students regarding academics, act as a liaison between all administrations who report to the provost, organize and chair monthly meetings of the Co-op Advisory Council and produce press releases on the Academic Affairs Committee activities.

These are all duties in which the next VP must attend to under Penman’s probation.

Penman’s removal is not the first time an SGA member has been ousted from their position in relation to an alcohol violation.

Former executive VP and VP of Academic Affairs Suzanne Cray resigned in April 2001 after consuming alcohol at NU’s Winter Weekend cruise of that year.

At the time of the incident, Cray was 20 years-old and used the fake ID belonging Kara Martel — the daughter of the Dean of Student Life Ron Martel — to drink in the area on the cruise ship designated for 21 and over guests.

After stepping down, Cray lost her $300-per-month stipend, free tuition, a $500 scholarship every six months and her free meal plan.

Schwabacher said the two incidents are different and that “it’s important to recognize that.” Both incidents involved two different individuals at two different times, but it is very easy to categorize them as the same, Schwabacher said.

“As a student holding a position in office, you are held to a higher standard, Anyway you look at it, it’s tough,” Schwabacher said. “You’re assuming a lot of responsibility and it’s tough for some. I think Tina did a good job, unfortunately, things like this happen.”

Once her probation concludes at the end of winter quarter, Penman can rejoin her colleagues in SGA. However, next quarter, Penman will be going on co-op, and senators are not allowed to serve during their co-op time.

“I am going to miss the privilege of working closely with students, faculty and administrators that are passionate about the well-being of this university,” Penman said.