While members of the Vanderbilt Student Government senate recommended that Reid Simon respectfully resign from his position as speaker of the house at a hearing Wednesday night, Simon has yet to make a decision.

"It's up to him," said attorney general Andrew Gossett. "There is only a week left (in his term), so I'm not sure what he'll do."

The senate's findings came a week after the house voted unanimously to pursue an investigation into the fulfillment of duties of Simon in response to his actions this semester, which included the authorization of an e-mail against the recommendation of President Cara Bilotta and her executive board. Gossett conducted the investigation and issued an in-depth report to the senate on Wednesday.

"It was a very thorough investigation," Gossett said. "The deliberation lasted over three hours, and I think we reached a fair and appropriate decision."

The senate did not find enough constitutional grounds for removal and voted nine to one against impeaching Simon. However, it also concluded that Simon's actions were "unbecoming of an
officer of the student body," and therefore recommended he resign, according to a report issued following the hearing.

Gossett said he thought "the situation was handled in the best manner possible" and added that VSG, a first-year organization, will re-evaluate how it handles its publicity, as well as the planning and creation of focus groups and committees, because of the incident.

"Recognizing the precedent of this trial and its repercussions, the senate issues a formal reprimand for a lack of full transparency and political motivation of Speaker Simon's actions," the report stated. "The Senate further reprimands speaker Simon for not fully exhausting appropriate avenues for discussion in the creation of his committee."

The standing house members will appoint a speaker of the house for the upcoming year next Wednesday, a day after the presidential election.

- Jarred Amato can be reached at jarred.s.amato@vanderbilt.edu