Student Senate business manager Eric Hopfensperger has been charged with failing to fulfill the duties of his position and to adhere to Senate ethics guidelines. He is facing the possibility of being recalled by the Senate.

Photograph by Exponent

Nathan Wait, senator from the College of Liberal Arts and Education, notified the rest of the Senate of his intention to recall Hopfensperger in an e-mail on March 14. According to Article XII of the Student Senate bylaws, two weeks notice of the intent to recall must be given in order for the accused to prepare a defense.

“It is my belief that Sen. and Business Manager Eric Hopfensperger continues to contribute to the degradation of Student Senate through his recurring failure to serve as a legitimate Student Senator and Business Manager,” Wait said in the e-mail.

“This is the first time in a long time that I know of something like this happening,” Kenny Brotheridge, Student Senate vice president, said.

Hopfensperger was already on probation, Frank Moullet, Student Senate president, said.

“Absences was one of the main reasons [for his probation],” Moullet said.

According to Article XII of the Senate bylaws, the recall process can take place if terms of the probation are violated.

Hopfensperger is in China and, as of Tuesday evening, could not be reached for comment.

Wait listed five charges against Hopfensperger, in the e-mail, including failure to fulfill his duties, failure to attend Academic Staff Senate meetings, failure to adhere to the terms of his probation, excessive meeting absences, and collusion regarding the 2008 student governance election process.

Wait said the e-mail was sent to all members of the Senate, including Hopfensperger.

Hopfensperger is running for Student Senate president with Andrew Brzakala, a senior business major, as his running mate, Brotheridge said.

Wait said that Hopfensperger has expressed his intention to graduate at the end of the 2007-08 academic year.

“I’m confident that he’s mentioned it to others,” Wait said.

Wait said that the charges listed in the e-mail had been a concern, but the charge of collusion regarding the election was “the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

“That’s a waste of time for everyone involved,” Wait said.

Wait authored the charges, but discussed them with “several” other members of the Senate. Wait declined to identify the other senators or how many were involved in the discussions.

Moullet would not directly comment on the charges against Hopfensperger.

“I was not going to inhibit the individuals from bringing up the process,” Moullet, said. “At the beginning of the term, we stated that we had high expectations. We want to hold people accountable for the duties they are elected to do.”

As business manager, Hopfensperger is the seventh highest-paid student governance official. The business manager receives $1,782 during an academic year, Moullet said. The money for salaries comes from segregated fees paid by UW-Platteville students.

Hopfensperger will be able to defend himself in an eventual hearing before the Senate, Brotheridge said. There will be a discussion among the members of the Senate present before a vote takes place. In order for a senator to be recalled, two-thirds of the present and voting senators must vote in favor of the recall.

Action on the recall process will take place at the March 31 Student Senate meeting, Wait said.