A constitutional convention is being held to rewrite the constitution for the Government of the Student Body and student delegates are needed, but powdered wigs are optional.

Last spring Iowa State students voted to create a constitutional convention for the purposes of rewriting the GSB Constitution.

This revamping of the constitution will require the participation of many students, not just in the writing of it, but also in its ratification.

“The timeline for completion is by next spring.

“We should have it finished and presented to the student body by then. It will be voted on in April of 1997 and go into effect in October, if it is passed. But we will need 20 percent of the student body to vote on this for it to pass,” said Jamey Hansen, GSB senator.

This doesn’t mean 20 percent must vote for the issue, but at least 20 percent must vote on the issue.

The new delegates will have a large task before them as the entire previous constitution is thrown out and redone, but they will not be without resources.

“We will probably look at several constitutions — past ISU constitutions, ones from other universities and the Constitution of the United States,” Hansen said.

Each college will be entitled to one delegate at the convention, and the first meeting of the convention will occur in two weeks.

The residence areas get one delegate for each senator they possess. The same is true for the special seats.

“The convention is looking for delegates, if you want to be one talk to your councils and take part,” Hansen said.

Hansen also defined his idea of what should occur at the convention.

“I think we should define what we want, what student government should be, and then go from there,” Hansen said.

Delegate Mike Pogee, also a GSB senator, explained what his goals for the convention are.

“I want to write something that is fair for all students. It’s going to be a long process. We are going to have to review what other universities are doing and review our own constitution.

“We need to look at what’s working and what isn’t, but I don’t think we need to throw out the whole thing,” Pogee said.

One of the possibilities of the convention is the renaming of the Government of the Student Body.

“I really think renaming the GSB would be a very good step in the right direction.

“The GSB doesn’t know where it stands right now; we don’t look at the past.

“The GSB at one point had a bill for Carrie Chapman Catt that wanted to name Physical Education building after her in the mid 70s,” Pogee said.

Pogee also stated feeling that a revamped constitution might change student’s opinions about student government.

“This is also part of the student perception of the GSB. It is often perceived as a big boys club, I mean look at our voter turnout,” Pogee said.

Pogee also said that getting 20 percent voter turnout was going to be very difficult, but that voters would be able to use ACCESS (kiosks) to vote.

“Whatever framework we come up with is going to better for all students, and I think they’re going to want to vote,” said Pogee.