The issue: SGA President Kevin Smiley announced his brother, Eric Smiley, as his chief of staff nominee at the Student Government Association’s meeting last week. He was confirmed by the senate this Tuesday.

Our view: Although being nominated by his brother reeks of nepotism, Eric Smiley’s lack of SGA experience is more of a cause for concern than his last name.

There are times when picking your brother from a host of potential candidates is perfectly acceptable.

Best man for your wedding? Sure.

First pick for your team in a backyard football game? Sounds great.

Chief of staff for the student government on a college campus? Not so much.

As expected as Kevin Smiley’s pick was, this conversation might not be going on at all if Eric Smiley was hands-down the most qualified person for the position.

But combine his total lack of SGA experience with his last name, and this becomes a nomination that should be raising some eyebrows.

Imagine the kind of heat the U.S. president would take if he nominated his brother, the mechanic, to be his chief of staff.

The Herald understands Western is not that big of a stage, but we do feel the same basic principles that apply on the national level should be followed in governmental proceedings at any level.

And while nepotism does take place in national politics more than it should, we would hope that the leaders in SGA would shy away from such a troubling ethical issue.

The nomination process offered Kevin Smiley an opportunity to separate himself from the old guard of SGA that he campaigned so passionately against.

Instead, he followed in the footsteps of his predecessors by filling a prominent position with someone he knows rather than someone who has earned such an important role.

The SGA constitution doesn’t require the chief of staff to have experience on SGA before taking the position, but members with knowledge of how things work will make the SGA a more efficient and capable organization.

This isn’t to say that newcomers shouldn’t be welcomed into SGA with open arms.

In fact, the Herald would’ve raised no objection if Eric Smiley chose to start off his SGA career as a senator instead of leaping up the chain of command so quickly.

But by accepting his brother’s nomination, Eric Smiley and his brother have given their opponents plenty of grenades to lob at them throughout the semester.

Furthermore, one has to wonder what Kevin Smiley will do when his brother disagrees with him on issues.

Do brothers still give wedgies?

This editorial represents the majority opinion of the Herald’s 11-member editorial board.