Following its suspension, ASU's Graduate Student Government is resuming meetings as some Assembly members and graduate students question changes made to the organization without their input.
An investigation by Student Rights and Responsibilities paused all GSG activity over the summer, leaving graduate students without funding opportunities. The organization's grants remain unavailable as GSG struggles to become operational again.
The State Press was unable to obtain an official copy of the letter containing the outcomes of the SRR investigation, though some of its provisions were referenced during a Sept. 19 GSG meeting.
One change affecting GSG's operations is the removal of Assembly leadership, an issue mentioned during the meeting and in emails forwarded to The State Press.
Former Assembly Parliamentarian Richard Robert Reithal forwarded documentation to members of GSG demonstrating that the Assembly speaker, speaker pro tempore and parliamentarian were removed from their positions. Reithal's email was separately sent to The State Press.
In an email chain, GSG President Bhagvan Reddy Vemula, a graduate student studying information technology and management of technology, told Reithal he is no longer the parliamentarian but can apply for the position when an Assembly speaker is officially elected.
Reithal sent out a roster, last updated on Sept. 16, of GSG officers that indicates vacancies in the Assembly leadership positions. However, a public roster last updated in May shows that those positions were full. Reddy Vemula said he was unaware of the reasons for the removals or who was responsible.
Reithal did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
READ MORE: Investigation into GSG concluded as students express concerns about dysfunction
The alterations to GSG also included amendments to the organization's constitution and bylaws. Previous revisions spanning from 2020 to September 2025 of the governing documents were erased, then amendments were made to the older versions.
Reddy Vemula sent an email to members of the organization on Sept. 15 stating that the new governing documents were "amended and provided by the GSG Advisors."
Two sources from the student government said the GSG Assembly did not vote on the changes to the governing documents.
Amalie Strange, a former chief justice of the GSG judiciary and a doctoral student studying animal behavior, said she was concerned about the changes made to the governing documents.
"It seems like there's just a lack of communication of the reasoning for these decisions," Strange said.
Reddy Vemula convened a special Assembly session on Sept. 19. While the meeting agenda included measures to approve student funding, fill Assembly and executive vacancies and review other changes, those items were never addressed.
The 4 p.m. meeting did not start until after 4:25 p.m. and was significantly slowed by technical difficulties involving Zoom. Toward the end of the meeting, students passed a phone around the room to be heard by those present online.
Mehreen Tahir, a former GSG officer an doctoral student studying environmental life sciences, attended the meeting virtually and said it was inaccessible and uninclusive for online viewers.
Email records show Reddy Vemula providing notice of the meeting on Sept. 15. The agenda, however, was not sent out until the morning of Sept. 19, a contradiction of the current GSG bylaws.
This document was approved on Friday, March 21, 2025, before being posted online in the Graduate Student Government public records and shows the bylaws of GSG.
Several of those present said there was not sufficient notice of the meeting, and decisions made during the special session could not adequately represent the graduate student body.
Assembly members passed a motion to adjourn the meeting. By 5:40 p.m., the meeting had ended without the election of an Assembly speaker or any formal business conducted.
Another session was scheduled for 4 p.m. on Sept. 26, and moving forward, future Assembly meetings will take place on the last Friday of every month.
READ MORE: University administration interferes in GSG proceedings, records show
Strange said she found it difficult to justify paying the $35 graduate student programs fee after attending the meeting.
"I don't know how good of a use of time that was," Strange said. "It was really difficult to sit through."
A chief complaint during the meeting was a lack of communication from GSG leaders.
Reddy Vemula and Tharun Goud Dasugari, the GSG chief of staff and a graduate student studying management of technology, said they have no access to the existing GSG public records or social media accounts, preventing them from advertising the meeting. Goud Dasugari said the access should have been handed over during the transition between executive administrations, but that never occurred.
Jesus Gonzalez, a former Assembly member and a graduate student studying global management, said the issue is unrelated to the lack of communication with the student body.
"I want to remind everyone that (Reddy Vemula) having the access to social media sites has nothing to do with just simply answering emails," Gonzalez said. "You've been sending emails, and then you would go radio silent."
After the meeting, Reddy Vemula said he had "received a few emails."
"I missed a few emails because there are lots of emails in my inbox, because everyone is emailing me," Reddy Vemula said.
GSG remains unable to provide graduate students with funding opportunities as the organization's leaders seek a return to normalcy. However, it may be hard to move forward without an Assembly speaker elected.
Reddy Vemula said right now GSG is not stabilized and has a "lot of bumps."
"We have a good team, very soon we are going to fix things," Reddy Vemula said.
Edited by George Headley, Henry Smardo, Katrina Michalak and Sophia Braccio.
Reach the reporter at coyer1@asu.edu and follow @carstenoyer on X.
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Carsten Oyer is a sophomore studying journalism and mass communication, as well as public service and public policy. This is his second semester with The State Press, having previously worked as a politics reporter.
