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THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO, SINCE 1950
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Sports editor trains with women’s basketball team
Monday, September 23, 2013
JOHNS’ RESIGNATION IS LATEST IN SERIES OF STUDENT ASSOCIATION CORRUPTION Consistent wrongdoing has raised questions about UB’s student government AARON MANSFIELD Editor in Chief
The Student Association controls $4.1 million of student funds. In the past five years, its leaders have been the source of five major scandals. Last week’s resignation of President Nick Johns – who was accused of a litany of offenses, including harassment, falsifying time sheets and mishandling funds – is the latest in a pattern of impropriety that has been steady since 2008. Let’s rewind: - In the 2012-13 school year, Treasurer Justin Neuwirt accused President Travis Nemmer and his “cronies” of rigging SA’s election to get Johns voted into office. - In 2011-12, Treasurer Sikander Khan attempted to invest $297,000 of student funds in a mobile application from a fraudulent company called “Virtual Academix” that appeared to have connections to known associates of Khan. He was reported to the University Police Department before resigning and leaving Buffalo. SA higher-ups say they have not heard from him since the incident and have no idea where he lives today. - In 2009, President Hassan Farah was impeached after allegedly punching a staffer at an orientation event. - In 2008, Generation Magazine published an indepth exposé revealing some of SA’s frivolous, self-serving spending habits with student funds – including: a nearly $17,000 trip to Toronto, in addition to expensive trips to Boston and Los Angeles; $12,000 salaries for executive board members; and over $10,000 for t-shirts, polos and hooded sweatshirts. Before that article came out, SA’s three e-board members ran unopposed for reelection – only 155 students voted and the election was shortened to two days. SA was accused of intentionally not publicizing the election. Things have changed since 2008, though – the mandatory student activity fee has increased by $15.75, from $79 to $94.75, and SA’s annual budget has increased by $1 million. The Student Association is as powerful as it has ever been. Questions surround SA: What exactly is this organization that controls so much student money, and why does something seem to go wrong every year? Does the structure need to change? What is SA? UB’s SA is the largest student government in the SUNY system. Though there are no aggregated statistics on which student governments in America control the most funds, it’s a safe bet that UB’s SA, which controls a total of $4.1 million and a budget of $3.7 million, is near the top. The University of South Carolina has an enrollment of about 23,000, and its student government controls a budget of $413,000. As for other SUNY schools, Stony Brook’s Undergraduate Student Government (USG) budget is about $3.1 million, Binghamton University’s is $2.5 million and Geneseo’s is $1.28 million. Is there sufficient oversight? Mario Ferone, Stony Brook USG’s vice president of communications and public relations, said the university’s vice president must approve the USG’s budget each year and every USG purchase goes through the group’s fiscal agent, who is a university employee. He said there is a faculty-student organization that helps handle all of USG’s finances and, though USG is mostly independent, “it makes sense to have the check from the university.” SEE SA SCANDALS, PAGE 2
March 27, 2008- President Peter Grollitsch and his Progress Party run unopposed and win reelection. Only 155 students vote. April 2008- A Generation article titled “Did You Get Your Slice?” is published, outlining the corrupt practices of Grollitsch’s administration. During its term, the administration approves two student grants – a $1,500 condo in Killington, Vt., for 12 students on the ski team, including Grollitsch, and a grant for the Irish SA, a temporary club with one member, which included a $658 hotel in Boston for St. Patrick’s Day. Five students attend the Boston trip, including SA Treasurer John Martin and SA official and SUNY Delegate Jack Niejadlik.
May 2009 July 20, 2009- SA President Hassan Farah is arrested for allegedly assaulting orientation aide Akash Chakravarty in the Ellicott Complex. Chakravarty’s nose was broken.
Oct. 4, 2009- After a month of petitions circulating calling for Farah’s impeachment, the Student-Wide Judiciary (SWJ) announces its decision to recall Farah based upon investigation. Oct. 23, 2009- VP Ernesto Alvarado defeats Farah – who ran again – by 549 votes to win the reelection.
May 2010 May 2011 Feb. 12, 2012- Treasurer Sikander Khan and Vice President Meghan McMonagle sign a contract for $297,000 with fraudulent company Virtual Academix, which appears to be run by people with whom Khan is associated. Khan had claimed the company would develop a mobile app for SA with five years of maintenance service. March 2012- President JoAnna Datz releases a 100page internal document analyzing the potential purchase. The District Attorney’s office investigates the case. April 20, 2012- Khan resigns following the scandal.
May 2012
March 2013- President Travis Nemmer is accused of rigging SA elections by Treasurer Justin Neuwirt, who says Nemmer is “unethically swaying voters” in the favor of Nick Johns. March 28, 2013- Johns and his party, Spirit, sweep SA elections.
May 2013 Sept. 8, 2013- SA higher-ups accuse Johns of inappropriately accepting gifts, mishandling SA funds, hiring personal friends over more qualified candidates, being absent from important events, falsifying documents, mistreating staff and harassing Chief of Staff Jennifer Merckel. SA staff members collect about 2,000 petition signatures to impeach Johns. Sept. 18, 2013- Johns resigns as president. His presidency lasts less than one academic month.
KEY:
Peter Grollitsch (Spring ’07 - ’09) Hassan Farah (Spring ’09 - 10/4/09) Ernesto Alvarado (10/4/09 - Spring ’10) Nischal Vasant (Spring ’10 - ’11) Joanna Datz (Spring ’11 - ’12) Travis Nemmer (Spring ’12 - ’13) Nick Johns (Spring ’13 - 9/18/13)
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Volume 63 No. 12