Following last week’s funding process, Oriflamme once again took center stage at the Student Government Association meeting last night.

Charged with the primary duty of introducing new students to University life during Welcome Week, Oriflamme came under scrutiny for its selection process as the SGA Committee for Internal Affairs requested the revocation of the Oriflamme SGA charter.

“Oriflamme violated the chartering process,” explained SGA Administrative Vice President Tony Wagner. He added that the CIA examined the charters of the sports clubs as well as any other organization that had been questioned during the funding process.

Last week, SGA voted to reduce the funding of Oriflamme to $1,000 from the recommended allocation of $3,031.24 by the SGA Finance Committee. Oriflamme was the only organization that received a cut in funding from the recommended allocation.

According to the SGA constitution on chartering student organizations, the organizations must “allow membership to all Saint Louis University students without regard to race, sex, religious beliefs, ethnic or national origin.”

“The Oriflamme constitution says that the membership is selected and not open to every member of the community,” Wagner added.

Oriflamme President Dan Manion said, “We restrict because you can’t have an organization of 200 plus people running around doing the work of Oriflamme.

You’re not guaranteed qualified members.”

Manion thinks it is important for Oriflamme to keep its chartered student organization status. “We need to save the organization’s face, and we feel that we serve a huge purpose at this university,” Manion said.

He added that Oriflamme is currently working on helping with retention by holding Oriflamme reunions.

During the SGA meeting, Academic Vice President Meghan Clune questioned whether all CSOs actually followed the membership regulation: “Do you really believe all CSOs follow this?”

Noelle Brindell, Oriflamme treasurer, was confused as to why the senate couldn’t wait until the new Oriflamme charter is created this weekend before taking these actions.

Former Oriflamme President Lou Rao added, “It seems pretty clear that it’s open to everyone.” He explained that they post flyers on trash cans, in the quad, and in classes for anyone interested in applying.

Arts & Science Senator Todd Stonewater motioned to table the bill indefinitely to allow Oriflamme to alter its charter. The motion passed 26-7.

Following the meeting, Phil Lyons, Director of Student Life, explained that even if Oriflamme loses its SGA chartered status, it will remain a student organization under Student Life.

“University policy on student organizations superceded SGA’s constitution,” Lyons said.

According to the Student Handbook Section 3.2.2, “Every student organization chartered by the University is free to select its membership upon the basis of individual merit.”

In addition, in the event the Office of Student Life does not concur with the SGA decision to revoke an SGA charter, the charter will be sent to an appeals board composed of one faculty member, one administrator, and three students chosen by the university president.