Evan Dyson / The Breeze

Controversy followed when the SGA performed a secret ballot regarding the impeachment of Eickel that was afterward cited as being in violation of Virginia Freedom of Information Act. On August 27, The Breeze, James Madison University's student newspaper, published a letter to the editor from Eickel in which he attempted to clarify issues surrounding his spring campaign for student government. In Eickels' campaign, he knowingly used platform ideas from William and Mary students, Zach Pilchen and Valerie Hopkins who were campaigning for their own student assembly without giving proper credit.

Robert Burden, JMU's Executive Treasurer, said that Eickel "was looking for ideas" and that he "never meant to plagiarize."

Although Eickel didn't intend to cause a controversy the student body was torn, and some people believed he had in fact plagiarized.

"It seemed like he did plagiarize," JMU freshman Maryssa Henderson said.

Burden believes that the SGA could not have prevented this and that the current issues went "out of control, very quickly."

JMU's newspaper reported that through a secret ballot, the members of the Senate voted not to impeach Eickel for his wrongdoings. Eickel won the secret ballot but even after he avoided impeachment, JMU's student government faced more issues when their secret ballot was cited as being in violation of Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

To the knowledge of Burden, JMU has never experienced this kind of controversy. Eickel will announce his resignation at the SGA meeting today.

"I feel that he did the right thing by resigning," Henderson said.

In an official statement to The Breeze, the SGA Executive Council released their feelings surrounding Eickel's personal decision.

The SGA "supports him completely," Burden said.

Released through email, Virginia Tech's SGA agrees that "Brandon Eickel's decision to resign is a respectable one, and is evidently being done with the student body's interest in mind."

Burden hopes that following these issues, the JMU student body will become proactive and will begin to pay more attention to the student government.

"He was an outstanding leader at the university," Burden said.

According to Burden, the SGA is trying to look past these issues and get back to working with the students. The Breeze reports that while looking for a new president, their SGA will be run by vice president of administrative affairs, Andy Gibson.

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