The Graduate Student Association Senate decided by two-thirds vote to remove the remaining two-thirds of the GSA's executive board in a meeting this past Wednesday, in addition to electing Catalina Crespo as president for the rest of the semester.
Adhering to the suggestions of an inquiry committee formed in light of a controversy over "misappropriated funds," the Senate voted to both impeach and remove Vice President Jillian Flood and Treasurer Sakeet Varma.
Former President Aubrey Balcom resigned in a December senate meeting where he faced impeachment and removal from office for overspending on a Seattle conference trip he had taken with Vice President Jillian Flood.
"I will not slink away like a coward and resign," Flood replied in tears to senators who asked why she ignored an opportunity to resign before the impeachment and removal proceedings took place - despite admitting wrongdoing during and following the incident.
"If it outweighs the good and the hard work I've done for this office," Flood said, "then I don't want to take that away from you guys."
Balcom requested $2,177.78 as reimbursement for restaurant, hotel and rental car charges, in addition to other expenses that he and Flood had incurred on a trip with an approved budget of only $500. The reimbursement, however, was approved by the entire e-board, including Varma.
Varma said that he approved the reimbursement only because Balcom intimidated him to do so, and that he did his best to correct the action immediately following it. He also said that he had not received proper training nor support since he'd been elected.
"My concern was to pacify everyone at that time," Varma said. "Without being given proper training in protocol... without help from office managers, without help from the Sub-Board, without help from anyone in the executive board, I served the GSA."
A member of the inquiry committee hushed senators who applauded early on in the meeting, sustaining the solemn atmosphere of the evening.
"This is not a happy moment for anyone," members of the committee said throughout the night.
Crespo won the election, beating Ronald Piaseczny who had been serving as interim president since Balcom's resignation.
Nicole Jowsey and Jess Chow were selected to fulfill the responsibilities of vice president and treasurer respectively until an election can be held at the next senate meeting.
