Student Court to Hear Challenge to ASG President’s Veto

Associated Student Government President Claire Krebs ’26 explains her reasons for vetoing the ASG Senate’s decision during a Senate meeting on May 14, 2026. (Dylan Ryu/The Santa Clara)

Santa Clara University’s Student Court will hear a challenge on Monday over whether Associated Student Government President Claire Krebs ’26 had authority to veto the Student Senate’s decision not to approve two student organizations for full club status.

The case was brought by Herb Schreib ’26, ASG web development chair, after Krebs vetoed the Student Senate’s decision to keep Friends of MSF and the American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative as provisional student organizations. The hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Kenna Hall, room 304.

Chief Justice Bea Ricafort ’26 said Schreib v. Krebs will address “a matter of constitutional interpretation,” including the Registered Student Organization approval process and “the scope of the student body president’s veto authority.”

The Senate voted on the clubs during its April 30 meeting, when provisional student organizations sought approval to become RSOs. Under ASG bylaws, new organizations “must be approved by a supermajority of the Student Senate in order to gain full RSO recognition privileges.”

Senators raised concerns that the groups overlapped with existing campus organizations and did not fit the purpose of an RSO. During the Friends of MSF discussion, Senator-at-Large of Athletic Relations and ASG Student Affairs Committee Chair Carmen Duque-Diaz ’27 said “why we denied MSF and Lung Cancer is because this is not what RSOs are structurally meant to be, better as an initiative through another RSO,” according to Senate minutes.

Schreib said the challenge is about presidential power, not either club’s merits.

“Allowing the vetoes to stand would set a precedent expanding executive power beyond what our governing documents intend,” Schreib said.

Krebs said she vetoed the decision to give senators “a second chance to debate” and the groups another chance at becoming RSOs. She said there cannot necessarily be “too much” medical awareness on campus. 

“It’s constitutional to begin with,” Krebs said. “I think it’s appropriate for other presidents to have that power, but I'll let the court decide.”

The bylaws state that “the Student Body President shall possess the power to veto any resolution, open letter, commendation or other legislation” passed by the Senate. They also allow the Senate to override a veto by supermajority vote.

Schreib said he hopes the case creates “a clear precedent on the scope of executive power within ASG.”

Members of the public may attend the hearing as observers, but Ricafort said audience members are expected to remain silent and avoid causing disruptions.