Student Senate Chief of Staff Robbie McDonough announced his resignation during Tuesday’s Senate meeting, saying “deceit, dishonesty and a lack of faith from the Senate leadership has prohibited me and, in my opinion, the entire Senate’s ability to positively impact the students at this university.”

The sophomore political science major was the last senator to take the speaker’s podium, where he read a prepared speech and fielded questions for approximately three minutes before Senate took a break from standard proceedings to facilitate a tuition town hall meeting that had been scheduled during the meeting.

In his speech, McDonough cited former Student Body President Jodi Warmbrod as a major influence in his involvement in the Senate. Yet the excitement and energy he had for student government, he said, has since disappeared as his “character and abilities have constantly been questioned and [his] presence has been ignored.”

McDonough was often the voice of the Senate, speaking strongly against criticisms of the student governing body, particularly those voiced by The Daily Campus Editorial Board. In an Oct. 3, 2002 commentary, McDonough championed the actions of the Senate following first-year election fraud. But he now “feel[s] as though [his] heart has been corrupted by those whom [he] once recognized as friends and whom [he] once respected.”

Although McDonough informed the Senate Executive Committee of his resignation Monday, his announcement at Tuesday’s meeting came as a surprise to the other senators.

“It was definitely a surprise to me,” said law school senator Grant Walsh. “His resignation is a loss to the Senate.”

McDonough said he made the decision to resign a week ago but that he had been considering it since last September. Sources within the Senate said McDonough’s relationship with Student Body President Dustin Odham had been rocky because of policy disagreements last semester. The chief of staff is supposed to support the platform of the president, but McDonough’s dissenting voice did little to reinforce his position as a president-appointed officer.

In addition, McDonough felt he was an “untapped resource” on Senate, particularly considering the traditional role of chief of staff as “right hand man” to the president.

“My opinion was ignored,” he said. “I never was consulted on issues I should have been. People overlooked me.”

McDonough also said “trust was an issue” from the very beginning between him and Odham, but that he was not sure where the mistrust began.

“We had communication issues that really didn’t help the situation and hurt the effectiveness of Senate,” he said.

Odham would not comment on his relationship with McDonough except to say, “I applaud Robbie’s service to Student Senate and wish him the best of luck in any future endeavor.”

Despite his stated unhappiness while on Senate, McDonough expressed his desire to resign before his negative attitude rubbed off on any other senators.

“I’m not in the business of destroying [Senate] from the inside,” he said.

Senate Vice President Britt Moen will serve as interim chief of staff while applications are accepted from current elected senators who wish to hold the position the remainder of the semester. Odham will review applications received by Friday’s deadline and could make a recommendation to the Senate Executive Committee as early as Monday, meaning Senate could see a replacement by Tuesday.

Click here for the full text of McDonough’s resignation.