Members of Student Council's executive committee met in late August to discuss how to address various concerns stemming from the performance of Vice President for Organizations Catherine Tobin, according to Victoria Ingenito, director of University relations for Council. The members, including Council President Lauren Tilton, considered options ranging from setting specific performance guidelines to pursuing impeachment. The discussion originated from frustration with Tobin's performance, particularly as it related to the office space allocation process last spring.
According to Ingenito, five executive members including Tilton, Executive Vice President Melissa Warnke, Vice President for Administration Jack Wilson, Chief of Staff Ryan McElveen and Ingenito herself were present at the meeting. Former Executive Vice President Nick Jordan also attended part of the meeting, according to Ingenito. Tobin was not present at the meeting.
Among the concerns brought up with Tobin's performance was what members are calling a "clerical error" that occurred in a vote tally during an allocation meeting last semester. The problem was brought to the attention of the executive committee after Tobin allegedly recorded the votes of two allocation committee members inaccurately. Additionally, students had voiced concerns over Tobin's responsiveness to e-mail and some Council members questioned whether Tobin correctly followed by-laws in dealing with the allocations process. In addressing these points, however, Tilton mentioned that the VPO receives mass amounts of e-mail that are sent through a complex response chain and that Council by-laws had not been followed precisely for a couple years prior.
Tilton said when she first heard complaints of the alleged problems with determining allocations, she felt it was not acceptable, but after talking to both sides Tilton said she felt the process of allocations itself, not Tobin's job performance, could have led to those problems.
In determining how to respond, members also discussed asking Tobin to sign a type of contractual agreement that would require her resignation should "certain conditions" not be met, according to Ingenito.
"If for x, y and z reasons she isn't doing her job or any incidents happened, then she would resign," Ingenito said, adding that Tobin's failure to "fulfill duties" would create cause for forced resignation.
The need for a replacement for Tobin, should she step down or be forced to leave Council, was also discussed. Jordan was suggested as a potential replacement, Ingenito said.
"It was not [discussed] in depth, because it was concluded that impeachment was not our course of action," Ingenito said. "Our thinking of who could do the job didn't go very far."
Ingenito emphasized that the committee's conclusion did not include the decision to impeach Tobin. The ultimate outcome of the meeting is unclear.
"In light of the new constitution there has been more confusion" about processes in Council, Tilton said, adding that everyone should have the chance to "fix their mistakes"
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