While reform talks filled the opening of the Associated Students of Madison Student Council’s 15th session Thursday, heated debate and a key resignation left representatives in silence by its end.

Alex Gallagher, former Student Services Finance Committee chair, resigned Thursday from his position as a representative of the College of Letters and Science saying “new blood” could offer a fresher perspective on the current state of ASM.

Gallagher’s decision was met with disappointment and shock by some council members.

Fourteen of the 29 new representatives, Gallagher included, released a statement in April acknowledging the need for ASM reform. Thursday’s meeting marked the opening meeting of the new session and the first opportunity for the group to address possible changes and elect leaders who would put them in place.

The ASM chair election was postponed until Monday’s meeting to allow outgoing Shared Governance Chair Jeff Wright to be considered for the position, as Wright’s decision to run depends on whether he stays another full year to complete an additional major.

Gallagher also hesitated to say he would stay another year, and he lost the vice chair election to Hannah Karns, former Legislative Affairs chair and staff writer for The Badger Herald. Karns and Gallagher disagreed on the role of ASM vice chair. Gallagher expressed the importance of better communication between ASM and students.

“We need to push for ASM to have a legitimate role,” Gallagher said. “We can’t sit here and come to meetings every other week and think that we are really outreaching to the campus. As vice chair, I really want to spearhead our movement to increase our outreach capacity.”

Karns, who did not sign onto last month’s press release because she did not “feel the consent of the entire session was represented,” emphasized the need for improved internal operations.

“There should be accountability, and I think with communication comes accountability,” Karns said.

Gallagher was also defeated by outgoing Academic Affairs Chair Jessica Pavlic for in his bid for Nominations Board chair.

A motion to indefinitely postpone appointment of a Campus Relations Committee chair prompted lengthy debate. As expressed in the statement calling for reform, some members of SC are hoping to revamp ASM’s press relations system over the summer months. Many members of the group were hesitant to appoint a chair because of the changes that would be made to the position, including making the Campus Relations Committee a closed committee.

“I don’t think it is a secret that our press relations are pretty bad with ASM,” Gallagher said.

Although some members expressed optimism about the future of the organization after the meeting, Wright remained motionless at the table, seemingly stunned by Gallagher’s decision.

Student Council is scheduled to meet Monday to potentially elect a chair for the 2008-09 year.