Two cases recently were filed with the Government of the Student Body Supreme Court to protest the handling of this year’s voter registration process and to change the wording about senate specialty seats in the GSB constitution.

Although the case regarding the handling of the registration process was settled recently, Dian Butler, non-traditional, filed both cases and plans to refile the other case.

Butler said she felt the election commission did not handle the registration process in accordance with the GSB bylaws.

“The bylaws outline that we are supposed to have three consecutive school days in which to be able to register, and this year we only had two days,” she said.

Butler said she also felt the registration process was inconvenient for some students, and it was necessary to come up with better alternatives.

The case regarding the registration process was settled by the GSB Supreme Court before it went to trial. The settlement will allow students to give up a college or residence hall vote to register to vote for a specialty seat at the ballots rather than ahead of time.

“It was preferable for everyone to settle at the pre-trial conference because of time constraints,” Butler said. “I feel it’s just better for all the students involved.”

Chief Justice Nathan Treloar of the GSB Supreme Court said he also was pleased the case was settled before trial.

“Any time people can come together and make a mutual decision and understanding, it’s always better than having it go to trial,” he said.

However, Treloar said the case regarding the wording of specialty seats in the constitution might not be so easy to settle.

“I am pretty sure that the other case will probably go to trial,” he said.

Butler said she filed this case because she felt the term “specialty seats” was unconstitutional.

“The wording in Section B of the constitution is discriminatory when it comes to the language of specialty seats,” she said. “Just using the word ‘specialty’ is setting these seats separate.”

Butler also said it is wrong to make students sacrifice one vote to cast another for specialty seats.

“It’s discriminatory and does not foster the democratic process in a positive way,” she said.

However, Michael Pogge, LAS senator, said the wording of “specialty seats” stems from the groups themselves.

“If you look at the history, it was proposed by these very groups,” he said. “It’s a term that’s been around ever since the conception of the seats.”

Pogge also said the pre-registration process is there to allow students flexibility in making their own choices.

Wendy Applequist, graduate, said there is no evidence that members of protected groups could not be elected or appointed to regular senate seats.

“I think that the university should encourage students to consider themselves as members of groups based on intellectual or personal characteristics rather than immutable accidents of birth,” Applequist said.

Although he does not agree with Butler’s stance, Pogge said he is glad she plans to refile the case.

“I believe that if she does have problems with the current system, this is the way to address them,” he said. “Take them before the court and let the court decide.”