Student Court Hears Challenge to ASG President’s Veto

Claire Krebs ’26 (left) and Herb Schreib ’26 (right) sit in Kenna 304 while preparing for the hearing before the official start of the court. (Dylan Ryu/The Santa Clara)

Santa Clara University’s Student Court heard arguments Monday in a case challenging whether Student Body President Claire Krebs ’26 had the authority to veto the Student Senate’s decision not to approve two provisional student organizations for full club status.

The case, Schreib v. Krebs, centers on Krebs’ May 7 veto of the Senate’s votes against granting Registered Student Organization status to Friends of MSF and the American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative.

Krebs argued the veto was justified because senators made comments about the groups’ motives that she described as “entirely unsubstantiated, irrelevant and unfair.” She said she vetoed the decision to give the Senate another chance to discuss the organizations and give the groups “another chance” at registered student organization status.

“My role as a student body president is to be an advocate for all students,” Krebs said during the hearing.

Herb Schreib ’26, the Associated Student Governments’ web development chair, argued the case was not about the quality of either organization, but about whether the president can veto a Senate vote that did not pass.

Schreib pointed to ASG bylaws stating the president may veto “any resolution, open letter, commendation, or other legislation” passed by the Senate. He argued the Senate’s vote was a failure to approve the clubs, not legislation passed by the body.

“A veto was not what was legal, and what she should have done,” Schreib said, arguing Krebs could have filed a court petition instead.

Krebs countered that the Senate’s vote had concrete consequences, including denying the clubs access to funding, event privileges and other RSO benefits. She also brought leaders from both organizations to testify.

Lucy Lamoureux ’28, president of Friends of MSF, said the club would educate students about humanitarian crises, global health and international aid work. Giovanni Choto ’27, co-president of the American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative, said the group would raise awareness about early detection, smoking and vaping-related risks.

Schreib said the issue was broader than the two clubs. He warned that allowing the veto to stand could let a president and one-third of the Senate effectively approve RSOs, despite bylaws requiring a Senate supermajority.

The Court held a closed session after. Results of the hearing will be released on ASG’s website under the news tab.