GSA Senate Meeting Outcome

Dear members,

I am writing to inform you about the outcome of Wednesday's (December 6) Grauate Student Association Senate meeting. GSA President Aubrey Balcom has resigned at the meeting effective immediately, after being accused of embezzlement of the GSA funds.
(Please refer to the letter below, a letter which I formaly sent out to other International Club Presidents and Senators for details of the accusation of misappropriation of funds). I also have a copy of encumbrance form and receipts that were used as evidence, if anybody is interested.)

Throughout the discussion other executive board members were accused of negligence, and although no official action was taken against them (such as impeachment) a committee has been formed to further investigate the matter. GSA will continue to function as before, however, a new president will have to be elected (tentatively in the next semester), while if the formed committee finds it necessary/justified, the current executive board members will have to resign/be impeached and new ones re-elected (also next semester).

The meeting lasted for approximately two hours and sported heated argumentation.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

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(Previous email to International Clubs)

Dear International Club committee members,

I, Sherene Cheah, President of ASEAN GSA am writing to you of a vital problem that currently exists within the GSA. It has come to my understanding that that the current GSA President, Mr. Aubrey Balcom has abused his power as President of the entire graduate student population here in UB. This abuse of power is in the form of money spending - money coming from the graduate student fee which each and everyone one of us has paid to fund departmental, clubs, organizations events, conference and research fundings as well as publication fundings.

Based on proof (funding reimbursement forms, receipts and approval submitted and approved by the current GSA committee members), it appears that Mr. Aubrey Balcom has managed to obtain a reimbursement of $2,177.78 for a 7-days conference in Seattle when the initial encumberance requests form was only appproved for the amount of $500.00. Clearly, the additional $1,677.78 which he received should have remained in the GSA account for legitimate funding requests approved by the Senate and Funding Committee.

This is one of several misappropriations made by the current GSA President.

On behalf of the ASEAN GSA, I appeal to you and your Senators who will be attending this coming Senate meeting on December 6th, 2006 to assist in bringing up this matter with the entire Senate and to help in the impeachment motion which will be put forth.

According to the GSA Consitution listed on page X = 1. Impeachment may be initiated by 2/3 vote of active senate members present (quorum vote)at a meeting; 2. Upon impeachment, a motion for removal from office shall also be considered; 3. When impeachment has been initiated, and while final action is pending, the officer mentioned in these proceedings shall lose the right to exercise any of the duties and powers associated with the mentioned office. (GSA Constitution, p.X)

Proof of documentation of the expenses made and reimbursed to Mr.Aubrey Balcom will be made available on the night of the Senate meeting itself. If you wish to obtain a copy of the expenses report prior to the Senate meeting to go through them with your committee members and Senator(s), you can contact Ms. Catalina Crespo at ccrespo2@buffalo.edu or myself at spcheah@buffalo.edu.

Please also inform your academic department senators of the issue here.

We may be a small number in the GSA organization, but together, I believe that the International Graduate Clubs can make a difference. It is important that we voice such concerns out to the entire Senate. I trust that all of you will do the right thing!

Should you have any further concern or question on this matter, please feel free to contact me at spcheah@buffalo.edu.

Sincerely,
Sherene Cheah
President,
ASEAN GSA