An adviser’s criticisms at a heated Government of the Student Body meeting last week have led to a request for her resignation.

Friday morning GSB President Adam Gold sought to remove GSB adviser Terri Houston from her position. Houston, who said she will not resign, is also the assistant dean of students.

“I asked for Terri’s resignation because of the situation that happened Wednesday night and for things that happened in the past,” Gold said. “I am not prepared to talk specifically about this.”

The events that spurred Gold’s request occurred at Wednesday night’s meeting when Houston criticized the Senate for its lack of respect shown for the student audience and between senators. During the meeting, several confrontations were held between various GSB senators and officials from the Big Eight Conference on Black Student Government.

The debates were prompted by a suggestion that previously allocated funding for part of the conference be reconsidered, possibly cutting the amount in half or placing other stipulations on conference organizers.

Houston said a resignation would indicate an untrue admission of failure in her role as a GSB adviser.

“Yes he [Gold] asked me to step down. He did not ask on the behalf of the Senate. He was asking personally for my resignation,” Houston said. “I am not going to resign. My agreement to resign would make it seem that I have done something wrong and I have not.”

Houston said it is possible that Gold took her words directed toward the Senate personally. “I don’t know if he took it personally but he felt it was then [within] his duties as president to ask me to step down,” Houston said.

Houston and Gold met Friday morning, when Gold approached Houston about resigning.

“In my role of adviser, which I am charged to do, I was appalled at the activity that took place in that hallway and in the disrespect shown by all to each other,” Houston said.

GSB Vice President Carolyn Jones said she supports Gold’s decision. She agreed that Houston stepped out of her role as adviser in her criticisms.

“I remember her making the comment that these students in the gallery had the right to feel disrespected. She talked about consistency, but I feel she came down too hard on the senators,” Jones said. “I’m behind Adam if he believes we should find someone different.”

There is not, however, unanimous Senate support for Houston’s resignation.

“As far as this whole resignation thing goes, I think it was extremely disrespectful to Terri to tell her that she cannot advise the Senate when it is her job,” said Senator Veronique Cantrell-Avloes, LAS.

Cantrell-Avloes said there’s no point to having an adviser if senators aren’t willing to be criticized.

“Personally, I would love to know Adam’s reasoning for this. What is the purpose in having an adviser if they don’t tell you what’s going on?” Cantrell-Avloes said. “I think it’s a sad testimony that if you don’t agree with what most of the people say you can’t be a part of their organization.”

Gold said that all pertinent facts about his request will be released later this week.

According to GSB Bylaws, the advisers serve at the pleasure of the Senate until a new adviser is appointed.

It would take a majority vote of the Senate to remove Houston, who was nominated to the post by Gold and Jones at the beginning of this year.

Houston, who serves as one of two GSB advisers, has done so since she came to ISU last year. Doug Houghton is the other adviser.