University News // October 14 // Issue Nine

Page 1

Feature

A&E

A recollection of American fashion in the 21st century.

Vampire Weekend sells out the Midland Theatre Oct. 8.

Fashion History, p. 6-7

Vampire Weekend, p. 10

UNIVERSITY NEWS UMKC’s Independent Student Newspaper

Volume 81, Issue 9

Monday October 14, 2013

SGA MOTIONS TO IMPEACH COMPTROLLER, UNABLE TO HOLD DECIDING VOTE

Political Cartoon // Joey Hill Kate Baxendale

Copy Editor

A motion to impeach Comptroller Makayla Maslanka was made Sept 30 at the Student Government Association meeting. The motion was seconded but after two hours of discussion, representatives were still not ready to vote and continued the debate. During the debate, a senator left the meeting, putting SGA below quorum, the required number of representatives in attendance to hold an official vote. Ten SGA representatives, including President Benjamin Campero, Executive Vice President Parker Webb and Administrative Vice President Katherine Corwin, signed a memo stating that Maslanka overspent the Student Activity Fee Budget by $109,198.50. The memo claimed that this was sufficient cause for impeachment according to Article XII of the SGA Constitution. Campero claimed that Maslanka had failed to provide an accurate SAFB amount after the SGA executive board inquired about it several times. In his statement Campero said Maslanka had received the budget for the 20132014 fiscal year at a meeting on June 6. This budget, amounting to $950,000, was approved by Vice Chancellor Mel Tyler. The memo said, “…her actions could publicly harm the credibility of the Student Government Association as well as the SAFC.” During the meeting, Maslanka admitted to losing this fiscal report, and not asking the executive board for help when it was “obviously” needed. Maslanka admitted partial

fault to the over-allocation, but said others were to blame as well. She noted exaggerated budgets received from student organizations as a contributing factor to the financial mishap. Maslanka said she “came in losing” as comptroller because former Comptroller Katie Carlino had misused last year’s SAFB. Maslanka said she was not given sufficient warning of the proposed impeachment, but Campero claimed that she had been asked to resign from her position several times. Maslanka said the mistakes were made due to “miscommunication” within SGA and SAFC. During the debate, Campero cited a Facebook post Maslanka had made which revealed budget information from a closed meeting. He said that she was late to SGA’s orientation, and that she was often late or unresponsive to emails from the executive board and other student organizations. This lack of email correspondence was contradictory to SGA’s promise to reply to all requests within 24 hours, Campero said. Campero also claimed he was unaware that Maslanka was in need of help. He said the actions of the former comptroller were irrelevant to the current financial situation, and that Maslanka had failed her task to provide updates on the budget. Maslanka responded with an apology for her Facebook post, claiming it “slipped her mind” and it was a “silly mistake.” She also noted that SAFC had been forming a solution to the problem before Campero started working on one. According to Campero,

in addition to over-allocating the $109,198.50, Maslanka allowed for additional funds to be distributed to student organizations. He said the overallocation also meant University of Missouri – Kansas City SAFC wouldn’t be Student Government Association Senate able to approve eventMEMO by-event funding. The memo said “The The Constitution of the Student Government Association lays out reasons for ‘Impeachment and Removal Student Activity Fee for Office’: Article XII—Impeachment and Removal from Office Committee is now tasked with recovering Section 1, B: "Executive Board Officers and Senators may be impeached for sufficient cause by the Student Senate. Sufficient cause consists of any one or more of the following: malfeasance $150,219.02.” of office, violation of duly enacted regulations, or violation of other legislation of SGA;” and Earlier in the  The Comptroller is tasked with delivering a fair and balanced budget. meeting, SGA  Makayla Maslanka has failed her duties as Comptroller by over allocating the Student Activity Fee Budget by $109,198.50. discussed a resolution  The Student Activity Fee Committee now is tasked with recovering $150,219.02. to fix its financial  After being questioned about the status of the budget, Ms. Maslanka failed to provide an accurate problems based on the amount. She continues to claims no fault despite knowing or having reason to know the budget over-allocation. amount.  Ms. Maslanka demonstrated her knowledge of the total amount the SAFC had to allocate in SGA voted to numerous emails she sent to organizations. cut 14.18 percent  Her actions could publicly harm the credibility of the Student Government Association as well as the SAFC. Her action and behaviors have not lent themselves to the standard of transparency cut from the annual expected by the Executive Board. budget of every  Ms. Maslanka has not performed assigned tasks by President Campero numerous times. student organization and council. This We suggest that Makayla Maslanka be removed from the office of Comptroller and be barred from holding any office with SGA or serving on a committee for SGA during the remainder of the academic cut would generate school term. $41,000 eventIn Favor of Impeachment Amy Johnson, BSSG Senator, President Pro Tempore by-event funding Caleb-Michael Files, ASSC Senator, Chief of Staff requests for the rest Benjamin Campero, President. SGA of the school year. Parker Webb, Executive Vice-President, SGA Katherine Corwin, Administrative Vice-President, SGA The Student Senate Tiffany Friend, BSSA Senator passed this resolution Mallory Brown, BSSA Senator with an overwhelming Rachel Jenkins, MSOC Senator majority. Miller Bogart, Pharmacy Senator This resolution to Thu Thi, Pharmacy Senator take a substantial cut from council’s and organizations Original SGA memo presenting claims against comptroller. has since been rescinded. Campero presented an working with administration to was tabled. The discussion will official memorandum to Tyler on find an alternative to the 14.18 continue at the Oct. 14 SGA meeting. Oct. 7 asking him not to sign the percent budget cut. The motion to impeach Maslanka kbaxendale@unews.com resolution. SGA has since been


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.