A few drinks at the bar and a case of the “giggles” were Abby LaCombe’s explanation for her disorderly conduct at Wednesday’s Government of the Student Body meeting.

LaCombe, GSB off-campus senator, admitted she was intoxicated at the meeting and has apologized to GSB officials for her disruptive behavior.

“I was very drunk when I got there,” she said. “I apologize to the GSB senate, to all on GSB, my constituents and everyone who was at the meeting. I am most embarrassed by my behavior.”

LaCombe said she is drafting a formal letter apologizing to the entire GSB senate.

“My behavior was not fair to the student body. The students have the right to a responsible student government,” she said. “It was not responsible at all.”

According to GSB bylaws, the GSB Rules Committee can choose whether to investigate a breach of conduct. Senators were hesitant to say, however, whether an investigation will be conducted.

“There will be a discussion about it. I don’t know if there will be an investigation,” said James Vogl, member of the GSB Rules Committee and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences senator. “But rules will meet the Monday after break and talk about what happened.”

GSB Speaker of the Senate Henry Alliger, who lost to Angela Groh in this week’s GSB presidential election, said he will discuss the behavior with LaCombe to determine whether the infraction is minor or major as described in the GSB bylaws. This has drawn some criticism because Alliger was at the bar Cy’s Roost, 124 1/2 Welch Ave., with LaCombe before the meeting.

Some senators have accused Alliger, as well, of being inebriated while running the meeting. Alliger denied the accusations. He said he had two drinks in approximately two hours and left the bar 30 minutes before the start of the GSB meeting.

Two other GSB officials — GSB Graduate College senator Bronwyn Beatty-Hanson and GSB Election Commission member Mara Spooner — were at the bar with Alliger and LaCombe. Spooner said she was unaware that Alliger was drinking during the night.

Yet some senators have pointed to Alliger’s repeated miscounting of votes during the meeting as an indication of him being disoriented. During a vote on a bill that received 18 “yes” votes and 4 “no” votes, Alliger announced that the bill had failed.

“It was a slip of the tongue, and it was immediately corrected. Nothing came of it,” he said. “I was discouraging other people at the bar in deciding to continue to drink. [LaCombe’s] actions were disruptive and inappropriate. I am disappointed that some individuals decided to show up that way.”

Other GSB members said Alliger was sober.

“Absolutely not,” Vogl said when asked if Alliger was drunk. “Henry is always professional. I saw no evidence he was intoxicated. It was a common mistake.”

GSB adviser and Dean of Students Pete Englin, who was also at the meeting, said as well that Alliger did not seem intoxicated in conversations with him before and after the meeting.

Englin said he does not foresee any violations under ISU Student Disciplinary Regulations.

He said the matter would have to be referred to GSB’s Rules Committee.

Alliger said should an investigation be called for by those in the Rules Committee, he would abstain and have GSB Vice Speaker of the Senate Kyle Perkins, also a committee member, chair the hearing. Upon completing its investigation, the committee has three options: dismissing all charges of misconduct, deeming an incident minor or writing legislation calling for the person’s removal from the GSB senate.

“It could escalate at the discretion of the senate,” Alliger said.

He added that senators could draft legislation separate from the Rules Committee investigation.

GSB officials who refused to be identified also speculated that Alliger and LaCombe went to the bar before the meeting because they had heard rumors indicating Alliger was behind in the GSB executive election.

“We went to the bar because we felt like going to the bar at the time,” LaCombe said.

“It was not due to the election. Our attendance at the bar had nothing to do with GSB.”

LaCombe said most members of GSB were forgiving.

Vogl was among those willing to forgive.

“She makes mistakes just like the rest of us, and we just need to accept it and move on,” he said.

Magill and others said it is still too early to tell how the incident will affect GSB’s image on campus and support for the group’s initiatives.

“I think obviously as representatives of GSB that we are here to serve students, and we always need to keep that in mind,” Magill said. “If that’s even a question, then obviously that’s a concern.”