BOT rep impeached

The Student Government Association unanimously voted to remove executive board member Michelle Bonsu from office and her position as student representative to the Board of Trustees on the bases of excessive absences. The impeachment decision came in late April, only two months after Bonsu was voted in. "She wasn't fulfilling her duties in the SGA," said Michael Tang, vice president. Tang is also chair of the oversight committee which he said monitors any rule breaks or infractions made by elected officials. Tang said that he first became aware of Bonsu's absences in early April and sent her a letter stating that she was under impeachment proceedings for being in violation of Article VI Section 1 of their constitution which states, "All members are permitted a maximum of no more than two absences per semester." "She missed two meetings, missed executive and committee meetings and office hours," said Debra Balestra, interim director of Student Involvement and SGA adviser. At the impeachment hearing on April 20, Bonsu was asked to justify her absences and convince the SGA to vote to keep her in office. "I had family conflicts," Bonsu said about her two absences. "My uncle died, overseas for a funeral and family came in from Yemen." Balestra said that although Bonsu's reasons were understandable, the SGA should have been given notice of her absences. "The concern of the SGA was that there was no communication on her part," Balestra said. Bonsu said she admits she could have communicated better, but thinks there were other reasons why the SGA didn't give her a second chance. "I felt that it was personal," Bonsu said. She said that when her impeachment hearing went into executive session it was "like an interrogation." "I wasn't going to beg," Bonsu said. She said that after she was impeached Balestra told her that the SGA took offense to some of the terms she used during the executive session. "Because I used the phrase 'you people' and they were offended," Bonsu said. "I thought that was very grade school." Balestra contends that the main reason for Bonsu's impeachment was the absences with no prior notice and Bonsu's unapologetic attitude at the hearing. "I think it was really foolish on their part because now they don't have a trustee," Bonsu said. Shortly after the impeachment, the student body elected freshman Joshua Roberts to the BOT representative position during spring executive board elections. Balestra said she recommended that Roberts begin his term early because of Bonsu's impeachment. "I thought it was a good opportunity for him to get acclimated and go in full force in the fall," Balestra said. The Board of Trustees however disagreed and opted for Roberts to start as normally scheduled in July. Members of the Board of Trustees could not be reached for comment.

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