Recent cases in the Student Judiciary, the conflict resolution arm of the Student government, have brought to attention malfeasance of office and gross incompetence of the Student Judiciary Chief Justice, Nate Romano. Lately, Student Council representatives and Student Services Finance Committee members have been questioning his ability to perform his duties as a leader of the Student Judiciary.
First, the Student Judiciary investigated a complaint filed by the Tenant Resource Center following the denial of that group's eligibility for funding by the SSFC. For groups to be able to receive student segregated fee money, every applying organization must be granted eligibility based on 10 objective criteria-each of which is answered by a yes or no question. The Tenant Resource Center eligibility was unanimously denied by the SSFC because the group failed to document the existence of a Student Advisory Board, a direct violation of one of the eligibility criteria.
Following the TRC denial, TRC contested the eligibility outcome in the Student Judiciary. Throughout the hearing Cynthia Campos and other TRC representatives admitted to presenting false information to the SSFC. However, the Student Judiciary did not take any of this into consideration. Instead, Justices Romano, Shelton Roulhac and Jordan Green held the SSFC accountable for false or missing information and they ruled in favor of TRC.
It is imperative that we make clear the real issue of this piece. The intent is to express gross discontent not only with the decision of the Student Judiciary, but with the blatantly biased behavior which was not reconciled or ruled out of order by Chief Justice Romano. Romano's inadequacy in maintaining order and civility in his court is despicable. As the Chief Justice, Romano is expected to be objective and impartial, and his duties include holding other justices to the same standards. By repeatedly interrupting members of the SSFC at the hearing, engaging the defendants in heated debate, and failing to remain objective and impartial, Nate Romano failed to do his job.
The case of TRC is now closed and SSFC plays no role in further discussion. The concern students must be aware of is the complete lack of checks and balances on the Student Judiciary and the hostility and malfeasance documented in Justice Nate Romano's tenure. Romano has repeatedly violated the rights of students and ASM's branches, bylaws and constitution.
A further example of his abuse of power can be documented by citing the recent resignation of former Vice- Chief Justice Brad Vogel, who cites numerous examples of Romano suspending the ASM bylaws and, shockingly, removing himself as a defendant from a case. If Romano assumes the power to remove himself from a case, he is virtually immune from any accountability for his actions.
It is imperative for us to reconsider his position as the Chief Justice. He cannot be allowed to trample over the bylaws of which he is the rightful guardian in vain attempts to increase the power of his position. For ASM and the Student Judiciary to be legitimate, this behavior cannot be tolerated. Romano must be removed from his position to protect and uphold the principles and values which form the foundation of our student government.
Barbara Kiernoziak is chair of ASM's finance committee. Janell Wise and Kevin Otten are chair and vice-chair of Student Services Finance Committee, respectively.
