Student Government Vice President Jeff Hanley and SG Comptroller David Teslicko will resign from their positions during the final Undergraduate Senate meeting of the semester, they announced Sunday afternoon during the senate's meeting
Both said they are resigning because they will be studying abroad during the spring semester. Hanley said he is studying in London, and Teslicko said he would study in Brussels, Belgium.
Hanley, a junior in the School of Public Affairs and the Kogod School of Business, decided to resign and study abroad because he wanted to have the experience of studying abroad before he graduated.
"My time at AU is running out, and in order to fit everything in to my major that I need to be able to do, this is the only time that I'm capable of being able to have this experience," he said.
Teslicko, a junior in the School of International Service, said he came to AU because of its study abroad programs and had always planned on studying abroad during his junior year.
Hanley and Teslicko ran unopposed and won their positions during the SG's spring election in early March.
Hanley and Teslicko made the decision to run and registered at the last minute after it became clear that no one else was going to run for either position.
"I had never necessarily wanted to be vice president - I got roped into it by Mr. [SG President Joe] Vidulich," he said. "There was a perceived need, and it was a need I knew I was able to do because of [the Residence Hall Association], and I decided to step up to do it."
Teslicko was actively recruiting people to run for comptroller prior to running for the position himself.
"I knew that if I didn't have this position, I would still have to be involved because there were so few people that knew how [the American University Transit Organization] ran and some of the financial things," he said. "When there was a need, I decided to step up and take that position despite knowing that I was going to have to leave."
Hanley didn't tell voters that he considered going abroad because he didn't think it was pertinent at the time. While he had thought it was a possibility when he ran, Hanley hadn't decided he would be going abroad until the beginning of the semester, he said.
"It wasn't a huge thing on my mind," Hanley said.
Teslicko said he didn't keep his intention to go abroad a secret and didn't think it would have made a difference.
"Most people have known I'm going abroad all semester at least," he said. "For example, I told Student Activities last spring, so it hasn't been a secret."
Students will be able to choose Hanley's successor in a special election Nov. 19. There will be two information sessions Saturday for those interested in running for vice president and an additional information session Sunday, according to Board of Elections Chair Amy McConnel.
Vidulich will appoint Teslicko's successor with the consent of the senate. Teslicko will chair a committee that will make a recommendation on whom Vidulich will appoint, Teslicko said.
The SG constitution requires it to hold a special election to fill a vice presidential vacancy and requires the president to appoint a new comptroller.
Eagle Staff Writers Carolyn Phenicie and Kim Selman contributed to this report.