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.

SGA President Kevin Smiley and his chief of staff nominee share the same hometown and the same last name — after all, they’re brothers.

Kevin Smiley announced Danville sophomore Eric Smiley as his chief of staff nominee at the Student Government Association’s Tuesday meeting, a move that’s raising ethical questions among some students.

The SGA constitution outlines the chief of staff position as a paid voting position on the SGA executive cabinet that advises and assists other cabinet members.

Kevin Smiley said his brother has no SGA experience, which was one of the reasons he chose him — he has no previous political agenda.

He said he knew people would question the nomination, but the chief of staff position is different from other positions.

“The point of the position is to be my chief advisor,” he said. “Even if it wasn’t Eric, it could only be a few other people. I chose him because he’s somebody I truly trust and he’s somebody who will tell it like it is.”

Bowling Green senior Skylar Baker-Jordan, former SGA executive vice president, said he approached a few senators after the Tuesday senate meeting.

“I think it’s a horrible decision and a betrayal of the student body,” he said of the nomination. “Even though it’s not done with sinister intentions, the decision itself is completely unethical.”

Justin Thurman, SGA administrative vice president, said Eric Smiley is already completing office hours.

“I believe that if Kevin thinks Eric is qualified, then it shouldn’t matter if they’re related or not,” Thurman said.

Bowling Green freshman Natasha Long said she was concerned about Eric Smiley’s qualifications, but she’s confident that senators will make the right decision.

Eric Smiley said he hopes people look past the family relation and get to know him as a person so they can see what he has to offer.

SGA members will vote on all nominations at their Sept. 8 meeting at 5 p.m. in Downing University Center Room 305. A two-thirds majority is needed to approve a nomination.