Timeline Leading to Suspension of Authorities
2008. Students vote in an all-campus referendum to pay a $10 per year per student Student Activity Fee for the University Student Senate to plan campus events. This is about $100,000 per year and will start in September 2009. Spending authority will be held by 60% of the Senate voting, not by the executive board.
9/1/09. USS receives first Student Activity Budget. It buys water bottles for students, hosts the huge Degeneration LGBT party, and plans other parties, mixers, socials, conferences, orientation events, and more.
10/28/09. At USS meeting, Vice President Chris Crews brings a motion of no confidence in USS President Tushar Gogia. Majority of Senate supports motion. Tushar agrees to step down on 11/10. Senate votes to meet 11/1 to draft a new executive committee structure, votes that it will be approved online, and as per USS Constitution, agrees that we will conduct a new leadership election at a special meeting on 11/10.
11/1/09. USS meets to write amendment to change from President and Vice President to three co-chairs. (USS had chairs until September 2008, so President is a new position anyway.) Vice President Chris Crews announces he will also resign 11/10 to allow for new leadership structure.
11/3/09. As voted to do by the 10/28 meeting, and because there are not enough members at the 11/1 meeting to pass an amendment, under Constitution Article XII, USS members are emailed with the drafted amendment to change to co-chairs. This passes on 11/3/09 with 12 Senators (75%) voting yes.
11/10/09. USS meets at a public meeting in A510, which has been advertised online since 11/1/09, along with various students and representatives of the Free Press. According to Constitution, USS Senators elect the Officers. Candidates are to declare their candidacy, make a speech, and take questions from the audience. Three candidates stand for the three co-chair positions — Peter Ian Cummings (existing exec board member), Dan Schulman (existing exec board member) and Christopher Walsh. The three candidates are elected unopposed, by secret ballot.
11/15/09. At first USS meeting chaired by Christopher Walsh, USS approves Student Activity Fee funding for LGBTQ Center, Gender Studies Conference, Research Committee, Parties, Events, and Special Elections for Mannes, Jazz and Lang. Co-chair Peter Ian Cummings proposes we send an all-campus letter of appreciation for the administration doing so many great things this year. This is approved unanimously.
11/16/09. On instruction from New School President Bob Kerrey, USS receives letter from General Counsel Roy Moskowitz informing USS that Kerrey has ordered a “review” of USS‘s change to co-chairs, as well as the USS leadership election. Spending authority, communications authority, and the ability to meet with administrators are to be withheld pending the review. Several administrators cancel meetings with USS. USS sends nearly unanimous protest letter to Moscowitz stating our election was conducted constitutionally, fairly, transparently, and that the USS executive board has full support of the Senate. In his letter, Moscowitz asks for further documentation. USS states that all USS meetings are are minuted on this website, there is no further documentation, and asks that this review be concluded for lack of cause.
11/18/09. General Counsel Roy Moskowitz writes to USS stating that USS may conduct our special elections and public events in December and that we may meet with administrators for that purpose. Bob Kerrey writes to Senator Jonathan Ziese stating that larger spending authority remains frozen pending the ongoing review.
11/19/09. USS sends email to students praising new developments, but saying our ability to serve the students was hampered by this unwarranted review.
11/19/09. Provost notifies USS that student government’s powers are restored.