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THE INDEPENDENT PRESS OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY 2019 Newspaper Pacemaker Winner
VOL. 61, NO. 21 FEBRUARY 26, 2020
‘Toxic’
SGA leaders frustrated by organization’s conflict SGA President Breanna Harmon, left, was one of six candidates disqualfied in this year’s SGA elections, which have been extended. Photo by Jon Mirador HANNAH EASON News Editor
best intentions to do this, and then in some way, get bullied out.” Elections for SGA president, as well as When thinking about the environment graduate and undergraduate vice president of the Student Government Association, and senators, were scheduled to open on words like “toxic” and “hostile” come to Wednesday but were postponed to allow mind for many members. At one point, af- “greater student participation,” according ter an interaction with an SGA leader, one to Jordan James, SGA election chair. student described wiping away tears before Six people were disqualified from runleading an orientation to encourage stu- ning because they did not fill out a required dents to join the organization. campaign finance disclosure statement. This Some SGA leaders are seeking account- includes current SGA President Breanna abilty for discrimination and harassment Harmon, who is seeking reelection; Raethey say is happening within the organi- lyn Davis, running for vice president; and zation. They say they’re at a loss for how to Lila Gemechu, Kelsey Russell, Ana Zaresolve conflicts between members. hore and Samara Shabon, all running for Alexia Guzman, SGA vice president, undergraduate senate. and other leaders said the organization lacks James said disqualified candidates are alaccountability and has too much power. lowed to run again “as if they were running “SGA does a great job at getting activ- for the first time.” Dates for the rescheduled ists, getting people who want to be that election have not been released. change on campus or help that group of Guzman said after leaving an abusive students. But then they get the activists, and relationship, a Title IX report concerning it’s like they get killed,” Guzman said. “I’ve the relationship was made by a fellow SGA seen so many people just come in with the leader. Guzman provided documentation to The Commonwealth Times proving the existence of a Title IX report. At the time, she had already filed her own report with the Title IX office and VCU Police but said when she talked to SGA members about it previously, “nobody gave a crap.” The biology and psychology double major said she learned of the report before conducting a student oriSGA Vice President Alexia Guzman. Photo by Jon Mirador entation at the conclusion
of a FaceTime call with Harmon, who she said told her to expect an email from Title IX. Guzman felt that the Title IX report was meant to prove she was unfit to lead, and that it was discriminatory toward her mental health.
I think it’s a pattern of people not understanding how our government is structured to begin with, and they just think of it as a straight line, like a hierarchy, like a job. So president equals boss, and everyone has to do what they say because they make all the decisions.” Taylor Maloney, SGA chief of staff Guzman, who is a senior and has been in the SGA since her freshman year, says that the situation made her feel uncomfortable and vulnerable. Harmon did not respond to several inquiries requesting comment and declined an in-person interview. “At that point, I was crying, I was in
tears,” Guzman said. “And I have to wipe it all off and go upstairs and tell people to join this org. I know it sounds really traumatic but to me, it was a lack of being humane.” Guzman said that if she was asked about the relationship, she would have been open to talking about leaving the relationship, and explaining she was in a place of healing. The report was to be forwarded to the Division of Student Affairs, but Guzman expressed to administrators that she was uncomfortable talking about it and wanted to stop the progression of the report. “I sometimes wish I didn’t cut it short. But at that moment, I did not want any other man, but also anyone in the school, to know what I was going through,” Guzman said. “It was very humiliating.” Guzman described SGA as a negative and hostile environment. She said one of her advisors told her they couldn’t discuss her trauma because it affected the advisor’s mental health. Another student said an advisor told her “accountability is not in my job description.” “We are aware of conflicts and continue to work with the student leaders to address their concerns,” said Division of Student Affairs spokesperson Matthew Lovisa in response to a request to speak with SGA advisors. “The role of SGA Advisors is to listen and support the SGA as they continue their work of supporting students. When issues arise, the SGA Advisors listen and take action when and where appropriate.”
See SGA on page 3
R&B ARTIST SHY LENNOX IS ON THE RISE CT file photo
See BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROFILE on page 7