Roxanne Raven, president of the Student Association, vetoed Resolution 42 on Tuesday, Feb. 23.  The resolution requested Mississippi State University to annul Houston Smith’s punishment banishing him from all MSU home games for the remainder of the 2016-2017 basketball season.
Raven, senior political science major, said she vetoed the resolution because she believes it is not the SA’s position to get involved in a private disciplinary hearing between one student and administrators. She said the administrators barred out the policy in place for Student Code of Conduct to the line.
While Raven vetoed the resolution, she said she supported how it raised concerns about the Student Code of Conduct’s process of appeals.  
“I would support future resolutions that would address that angle, but I do not believe that Mr. Smith’s rights were violated or he was treated out of the realms of the policy in place,” Raven said.
The Student Code of Conduct states the disciplined person, group or organization may petition for an appeal of the decision previously reached five days after the date of notification of the punishment. The petition for appeal will be reviewed by the Dean of Students’ Office and must be based on either an error in the procedure or the case of new evidence emerging that would have impacted the original decision of the hearing body.
Raven also said, due to disciplinary hearings, the SA does not have the means to factually create an argument against Smith’s punishment.
SA Senator Taylor Thomas, who presented Resolution 42 to SA on Tuesday, Feb. 14 said the resolution shows the SA Senate cares for the student body.
“Regardless of President Raven’s decision, the passing of this resolution shows that our Senate is here to support our student body,” Thomas said. “The administrators we hoped to reach with this resolution heard what we had to say even without President Raven’s signature.”
With the new SA members taking office today, Thomas said he was proud of the senate he was apart of.
“Often times Student Government gets caught up looking inward and doing things for themselves, but I am proud to have been a part of a Senate that focused outward and stood for each individual student,” Thomas said.
Thomas, senior industrial engineering major, said he has hopes for the new SA leaders. 
“I hope the newly elected senators and Executive Branch realize that disagreement isn’t a sign of weakness, but a sign of progress,” Thomas said.
Thomas said he plans to continue to advocate for Smith even without the title of ‘Senator.’
Logan Reeves, SA senator and primary opposition to Resolution 42 along with senators Layton Little and Emily Crace, said he was relieved Raven vetoed the measure. 
“Approving this legislation would have placed unnecessary strain between university administrators and the Student Association,” Reeves said.
Reeves, senior industrial engineering major, said the resolution may bring discussion about reviewing and altering the process of student conduct violations but he said he does not see a need for change, although, he is in favor of open discussion on MSU’s campus.
Smith, a sophomore education major, had an administrative hearing with Taber Mullen, the dean of students, on Feb. 7. Smith admitted to the charges against him and was told his punishment was banishment from all MSU basketball games for the remainder of the 2016-2017 season, from the Humphrey Coliseum and placed on disciplinary probation until May 15, 2017. 
Smith said he respected Raven’s decision to veto Resolution 42 and he did not have any hard feelings towards the outcome.
Today, Tyler McMurray takes office as Student Association President, Layton Little takes office as SA Vice President, and Stephanie Durr takes office as SA Secretary.