Brothers working side by side are sparking talks of Student Government Association favoritism.

But it’s not the first time an SGA president has been accused of showing favoritism to friends and relatives, or nepotism.

At the Sept. 8 student senate meeting, all 16 of SGA President Kevin Smiley’s nominations were approved, including his brother, Danville sophomore Eric Smiley, as SGA chief of staff.

Chief of staff is a voting position on the SGA executive cabinet that advises and assists other cabinet members.

The position comes with a stipend of $700 each semester, Kevin Smiley said.

At the meeting, he said he chose people who would best fit each job description.

Skylar Baker-Jordan, former SGA executive vice president, was the only person at the meeting to voice concern about senators approving Eric Smiley.

He said the decision was unethical because Kevin Smiley nominated his brother, who has no previous SGA experience.

No senators voted against Eric Smiley’s nomination, but senator David Vickery abstained from voting.

Vickery later said he abstained because he applied to be chief of staff last semester, and it was a conflict of interest for him to vote.

Eric Smiley addressed opposition to his nomination at the meeting, saying he felt he was qualified and dedicated to the position.

Nepotism suspicions were raised in 2007 when Jeanne Johnson, former SGA president, appointed her then-boyfriend Brian Fisher as SGA chief justice, said Nathan Eaton, former speaker of the senate.

Johnson and Fisher later married.

Cole Taratoot, an assistant political science professor, said he thinks nepotism should be kept out of student organizations because students who think it’s OK now could show favoritism in their professional lives.

Soleiman Kiasatpour, associate political science professor, said he’s against all forms of nepotism.

“We’ve moved from a social structure where family ties, names, age or other personal traits would win people jobs,” Kiasatpour said.