The Simmons Class of 2024 Council members announced their resignation in an Instagram post on October 2.

The Council stated in the post that their resignation stems from “significant obstacles” they have faced in fulfilling their duties. “As a result,” the Instagram post explains, “it is in the best interest of both ourselves [the Council members] and the Class of 2024 to step down from our positions.”

Naleigha Evans, senior and former Class Council Vice President, told the Voice that the obstacles alluded to in the Instagram post were miscommunication between the Council and the Student Government Association (SGA) and the Council being suspended and frozen before the November budgeting deadline.

Evans explained that there was significant confusion at the beginning of the semester between the council and SGA regarding which positions had been filled. Evans was under the impression that she had become the Class President upon the previous President’s departure and told the Voice she was surprised to hear that SGA would be running a special election.

“It seems that some members of SGA have taken it upon themselves to attempt to handpick positions for themselves and their closest friends,” the Instagram post states, “occasionally at the expense of previously existing and qualified candidates.”

Additionally, Evans told the Voice that the Class of 2024 Council was suspended by SGA in late September because only one member of the council had attended mandatory organization training held by SGA.

Evans explained that the suspension had been put in place just days before the budgeting deadline. “It just didn’t sit right with [the Council],” said Evans. 

Evans noted that she “hope[s] [a new Class of 2024 Council] works out well,” and that seniors are able to participate in traditional graduation activities that her council had begun planning.

SGA declined to comment at this time.