Students split on UTC student body president-elect stepping down

Monday, the UTC Student Government Association president-elect released a statement saying he no longer wants to be associated with the organization.

This follows the chalking incident on campus that left the campus divided.

It all started when students chalked a sidewalk without permission from UTC administration last week.

The chalk read "Trump 2016" and "Build a Wall".

A campus political group "Empower UTC" says a SGA Senator, Hailey Puckett, was one of the students.

Some students were outraged, saying someone in her position shouldn't be able to openly express her opinion.

Moe Hunt, a freshman, says he wasn't upset by the chalk, but did think someone in a student leadership position should be more mindful of her political statements.

"I think in a way it can be unfair. When you, if you run for SGA you have to assume you're always going to be in a neutral position. That's what you embody because when the student body has an issue you're supposed to look at each side," Hunt explained.

Others, like Michael Weiss, say that would take away her right to free speech.

"That's her right. She can believe what she wants. If she wants to make a big chalk drawing on the side walk, why not?" Weiss said.

Then, Empower UTC asked Puckett to step down.

Monday, it was president-elect Phillip Stubblefield who announced he no longer wanted to be a campus leader.

Part of his letter (above) reads:

I love this school and I am looking forward to serving as a student advocate outside of SGA.

Students took to Twitter to show their support for Stubblefield asking him to reconsider.

Some think given the drama between SGA members so far, it is best for someone to step down.

"He could be saying, she did this and I'm going to take it upon myself to step down or not assume this role," Hunt said.

We reached out to the SGA. The organization says it will hold a run off election for president next week.

Read our original story here.