CSUN takes action on director positions

June 29, 2009 by Pashtana Usufzy 

CSUN executives have been working around the clock to fill empty positions before the fall. Six students were appointed to new positions during the June 15 Senate meeting.

Senators questioned all applicants thoroughly in a meeting that lasted about four hours and ultimately chose to approve most of the recommendations made by CSUN executives.

Nestor Pineda was promoted from associate justice to chief justice of the judicial concil and former business senator David Rapoport stepped up to the Nevada Student Affairs Directorship. Susie Taylor was the only director to be re-hired from last year. She will continue to serve as services director.

Newcomers include sciences senator Patricia Stewart, chosen to replace Victor Barragan, who now serves as Senate president and was a part of the appointment process. Technology director Vincent Lipari and entertainment and services director Krista Mullen are also new to student government at UNLV.

CSUN is still seeking a marketing promotions director, and a student to fill an empty seat as a sentor for the hotel college. Executives plan to hold interviews until the candidates are approved.

General Senate elections will be held in the fall.

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Senate rejects executive’s candidate in vote confusion

A debate over abstentions led to the rejection of a nominee for the position of CSUN marketing promotions director, and the issue could turn into a judicial case.

D’Andre Balaoing ran for the position by presenting his plans to promote CSUN events at the June 15 senate meeting.

The meeting quickly became enveloped in argument as senators questioned how votes were counted.

The initial vote was tallied as eight in favor of the nomination, seven against and two abstentions. This was questioned as a debate developed over the proper method of accounting for abstention votes.

CSUN Vice President Daniel Gonzales said the contentious issue could become a case for the judicial council, explaining that part of the dilemma over abstentions was the lack of differentiation between a simple abstention and one rooted in a conflict of interest.

“‘The term abstention vote is an oxymoron,’” education senator Paige Hanson read from a rules manual as senators struggled to decide whether or not to count abstentions as ‘no’ votes.

Some appealed to precedent while others sought for the answer in the CSUN constitution and Robert’s Rules of Order.

“Any abstentions do not count toward the total votes,” Senate President Victor Barragan said as he searched through the Constitution for an answer to the dilemma.

Senator Christina Bates of the hotel college asked for a re-vote, a call that was backed by some but questioned by others.

“Majority is ten,” said Senator of the business college and president pro tempore Rick Shukis.

“Obviously that’s not majority,” he said of the eight yea votes.
Amidst mumblings that re-voting would be inappropriate, Barragan called for senators to clarify their positions.

The end result was a failed action.

Seven senators voted for approval of Balaoing in the marketing promotions director position, nine voted against and three senators abstained.

Balaoing originally garnered the support of some senators by giving specifics on his plan to advertise effectively and build a strong marketing street team.

“Being able to relate to students on a personal level…will [make] them understand that CSUN is here for them,” Balaoing said, “and at the end of the day that’s what we’re all about.”

He touted his experience as a marketing student and member of various high school organizations.

Some senators expressed doubts over Balaoing’s lack of experience in college-level student government.

“It’s kind of like comparing apples to oranges,” Shukis said of Balaoing’s explanation that his time in high school student council helped to prepare him for a CSUN office.

Balaoing’s rejection means CSUN will now seek new applicants for the position.