ASI board meeting stirs controversy
March 27, 2003
“Scandalous” was the word ASI Postbaccalaureate Director MohamedHamada used to describe the appointment of new Arts and LettersDirector Eric Twohey.
Despite the protest, the Board narrowly approved the appointmentat its Board of Directors meeting Wednesday with a 6-5 vote.
ASI President Eric Guerra, whom unilaterally selected Twohey forthe vacant position, was met with resistance from PostbaccalaureateDirector Mohamed Hamada, Executive Vice President Luke Wood andthree other Directors.
According to Guerra, only two eligible students applied for thevacancy, caused by the promotion of Zachary Donahue to the positionof Vice President of University Affairs in February. Donahue’sappointment was met with no opposition.
Hamada’s protest concerned an unfair selection process.According to Hamada, Guerra never contacted the other candidate,Adnan Kussair, nor did he participate in any interview process.
“No call was made and there was no interview,” Kussair said. “Ibelieve the technique was biased in a way. They picked somebodythey already know.”
Guerra said that due to Twohey’s experience as a part of the ASISting Team and his involvement in ASI, his knowledge of theinstitution made him the best candidate for the position.
“With only two months left this semester we need someone whoknows the inner workings of ASI,” Guerra said.
“It’s scandalous,” Hamada said. “The decision should be made onstudent representation, not institutional knowledge.”
Vice President of Finance Peter Ucovich disputed Hamada’sobjections, citing that the selection process should not be broughtinto question.
“It’s about qualifications,” Ucovich said. “We’re not here todebate the process.”
Wood feels that the process did not yield the bestcandidate.
“If you sat down and talked to the other candidate, you wouldsee he is the best candidate for the position,” Wood said.
After a 30-minute debate, the Guerra resolution was passed.Wood, Hamada, Undeclared Director Jessica Owen, Health and HumanServices Director Patrice Hill, and Engineering and ComputerScience Director Fahnmusa Jungaba voted against the resolution.
Kussair stated that he plans to run for the Director of Arts andLetters position in the upcoming ASI election.
The Board also voted to approve a motion brought forth by Hamadato seek legal action against Six-One-Nine Graphic Design. ASIbelieves Six-One-Nine, whom was paid a $5,000 deposit lastSeptember, did not meet its requirements in creating a new ASI Website.
The Board approved several other measures, including aresolution allotting $5,000 to the development of the ASPECT, asystem that would allow students to rate and comment about theirprofessors via the Internet.
Hamada said ASI has met resistance from the universityconcerning where the system will be housed. The $5,000 allotmentwould fund a server to house the system.
ASI also voted to support two university-related pieces oflegislation — a bond act and an assembly bill. According toGuerra, the bond would provide $21 million to Sac State. Theassembly bill, AB 550, would require student input for any futurefee hikes.
The Board rejected a resolution written by Guerra to rename “ASICommunity Service Day” to “Cesar Chavez Community Service Day” by a7-4 vote. Hamada, Owen and Director of Education Michelle Pereiradisputed the wording of the resolution and the impact of the namechange.
The Board unanimously approved a motion to co-sponsor a paneldiscussion concerning Iraq and foreign policy, held Tuesday, April1st. The panel will consist of presentations by five InternationalAffairs graduate students and a question and answer session.