Did the student body president and vice president forget the qualifications for their positions? 

One of the president’s and vice president’s qualifications is the “ability to maintain a high level of professionalism and a commitment to ethical practices,” according to the Student Government Job Descriptions. 

Student body president Suryakanth Prasad Gottipati and Vice President’s Sumit Jadhav actions have been far from professional – or ethical.

The pair signed a contract to swap positions in the middle of their term. This is a slap in the face to their qualifications and duties. 

Related: USF SG leaders signed contract to switch positions

SG’s goal is to make decisions representing USF students. But their leaders’ actions are a poor  reflection of the student body. 

The contract laid out Gottipati and Jadhav would switch roles at the end of the last semester.

According to the document, Gottipati would have resigned and, through order of succession, Jadhav would then be president. 

Then, Jadhav would have picked Gottipati as his vice president. The SG Senate’s Ethics Committee launched an investigation into the agreement in the fall.

Jadhav called the contract stunt a “joke” in a Feb. 25 Oracle article. 

I thought jokes were meant to be funny? I’m not laughing. 

Apparently, I’m not the only one. 

“As a member of student government, I found it appalling and a completely unethical breach of our governing documents and in the trust the student body rests in us, “ said Senate Policy Chair Brayden Jahn.

Jahn, who ran against Jadhav’s ticket in this election, also filed the original investigation request form for the contract.

“It reflects poorly on student government,” he said.

As a student, when I cast my vote I expect if this candidate were to win, they’d be the one in office. 

This contract completely undermined the importance of their positions. 

Jadhav also won this year’s election for student body president alongside his running mate Caio Esmeraldi, per unofficial election results. My only hope is that he keeps his unprofessionalism in the last term and doesn’t bring it into the next one.  

The Oracle reached out to Gottipati and Jadhav, but did not receive a response at the time of publication. 

How Gottipati and Jadhav have handled themselves as the top government members within the Student Body has been an issue for some time.

Gottipati already has two non-compliance orders filed against him due to his inability to hold meetings and meet deadlines. 

Related: USF SG ethics investigation into student body pres, VP faces setback

Gottipati and Jadhav are being investigated for “nonfeasance” by failing to hold required monthly meetings with campus governors.

This, in itself, shows Gottipati’s and Jadhav’s inability to fulfill responsibilities within their positions. The contract just seals this idea.

With Gottipati and Jadhav already under fire for their wrongful actions, I don’t understand how they could have seen the contact as anything but inappropriate. 

Whether or not the contract was a “joke,” it doesn’t negate the fact it was made and it goes against the qualifications for their positions. 

I can’t tell what’s worse, the contract or the way the Student Government handled the outcome.

The Ethics Committee had agreed to recommend a non-compliance order and a censure be filed against Jadhav and Gottipati. 

The committee also proposed an amendment that would explicitly prohibit SG officials’ ability to switch roles. 

The Senate, including the Ethics’ committee’s own chair, ultimately voted to send the investigation back for another review.

Jadhav and Gottipati said they were being “targeted” and did not “receive a fair trial.” 

This is why some senators said they voted against this initiative. But was it for this reason or because there was friendship involved?

Related: OPINION: USF SG, you can’t lead a university if you can’t lead by example

“I’d say of course friendship was involved in those votes,” Jahn said. 

This is an important decision and senators’ vote should not be subject to any outside influences.

SG should make me feel represented but Gottipati’s and Jadhav’s actions make me feel the exact opposite.