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Cedric Bowers takes his inaugural oath in 1999 as Associate Dean of Student Affairs Roger Bryant holds the bible. Photo courtesy of NCCU Office of Public Relations

Confusion and controversy surround what some have called the first impeachment and removal of a member of the N.C. Central Student Government Association in 30 years .

SGA Vice President Cedric Bowers was impeached for dereliction of duty by the judicial court of the student government on Feb. 8. Bowers was not present at the hearing. The student code of conduct states that a legislature can conduct such hearing in absentia.

SGA President Clifton Gray, who once endorsed Bowers for vice president, said that he initiated the proceedings.

"I made the suggestion based on the hard-core facts that he had derelicted his duties," said Gray.

According to an SGA source who asked not to be identified, Bowers did not attend congressional meetings, executive board meetings, or student government meetings of the 16 UNC system universities.

Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Angela Terry said that on Feb. 28, she wrote a letter to Gray supporting the removal of Cedric Bowers.

"My role is to receive the impeachment recommendation, which I did accept," said Terry.

Article 6, Section 5 of NCCU Constitution gives the chief justice of the SGA judicial board responsibility for presiding over the student congress in impeachment hearings. Impeachment must be ratified by a two-thirds vote.

According to Bowers and others, these procedures were not followed, and the impeachment was not legal.

"I wasn’t impeached," said Bowers. "I could only be impeached by the congress."

"I think technically, yes, Bower was not impeached," said Associate Dean of Student Affairs Roger Bryant. "I think that Congress should be convened and impeachment should be done as it is proscribed in the constitution."

Although Bowers said he does not recognize his impeachment as legal, he is not too upset by it.

In fact, said Bowers, he tried to resign in the summer of 1999, but Student Affairs employee Hazel Davis talked him out of it.

"When I first got elected, I was really excited," said Bowers. "By the summer, I lost some of the passion. Cliff and [I weren’t communicating]."

"If I had a problem it would be a rush meeting. [Gray] said don’t worry about it right now, we’ll get together. Just with that leadership ... I really wasn’t feeling it."

Some observers said that the impeachment and questions about procedure surrounding it are indicative of dereliction in student government overall.

"Obviously something else went wrong along the way to get to this point," said senior English major Truitt O’Neal.

"Someone needs to look at how seriously SGA representatives are taking their responsibilities. Is it for the general interest of the students and university, or is it something to boost their popularity?" said O’Neal.

Senior English major Monique Perry said that she is concerned that the SGA may have acted improperly.

"If they do not follow the guidelines of the constitution, then they are as guilty as Cedric is for not doing his job," said Perry.

Adding to the controversy, Gray appointed Dawn Witherspoon vice president three weeks ago. According to SGA rules, if the vice presidency is vacated in the middle of a term, the speaker protem of congress is supposed to fill the office.

Gray said that it was his understanding that he acted within his duties when he implemented the proceedings, and subsequently appointed Witherspoon.

"Dawn was SGA vice president freshman year when I was SGA president," said Gray. "This year she was in my cabinet as chief of staff. When the position became available she moved up."

And, according to Terry, if procedure wasn’t followed to the letter, Bowers is partly to blame for not laying the groundwork for his own proper impeachment.

"Charges of this nature are to be conducted by the student congress," said Terry. "The congress had not convened. To establish the activities of congress is the vice president’s duties."