By
Sonia McBride
May 12, 2008
Days before ASUW elections begin, Taylor Newbold, the chair of the Elections Administration Committee (EAC), was suspended Thursday at the weekly ASUW Board of Directors (BOD) meeting.
Newbold found out about his suspension, a one-week pay freeze, yesterday, but he was not given a reason for the BOD decision.
“I was not in attendance at the last Board of Directors meeting, and they didn’t detail the reason for my suspension,” Newbold said. “I get paid horribly anyways — I don’t work for the money.”
Newbold works every day except Thursday, and when his presence was requested the day of the meeting, he was unable to change his plans to attend, he said.
Students Hala Dillsi, Chloe Ameh and several others came to the board meeting to complain about Newbold, said Charles Cadwallader, who was also in attendance for a different issue.
The students complained about the scheduling of the Candidate Forum at the Ethnic Cultural Theatre (ECT) — on Wednesday, May 7 at 6 p.m. — because it conflicted with an event held in celebration of the Office of Minority Affairs’ (OMA) 40th anniversary.
“No one told me that [the OMA event] was going on at the same time,” Newbold said. “I knew that the ECC had their meetings on Thursday night and I was trying to incorporate that into the forum. It became an immediate controversy. A number of people are trying to portray this as me discrediting their organization.”
Others say the issue goes beyond the OMA night event.
“This was not the only forum that he mishandled,” Cadwallader said. “There was an RHSA (Residence Hall Student Association), Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic forum not associated with the EAC where the members decided to go on without him unilaterally because they found it very difficult to work with Taylor.”
Although he has been suspended, Newbold will continue to work until elections end.
“I am still going to be giving 100 percent. I won’t be taking the week off just because I’m not being paid,” Newbold said. “Elections are going to continue to run as they have been.”
Newbold’s presence is requested in a meeting with Personnel Director Kimberly Reid, Director of Diversity Efforts Tyson Johnston, Senate Chair Shawn Fisher and the board this Thursday, where his performance will be evaluated according to Bill 2.79, which has yet to be posted on the board’s Web site.
“I think it’s kind of pointless to have an evaluation of my position at the end of the elections,” Newbold said.
5 Comments
#1 R. Wung
on May 12, 2008 at 1:04 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
Lots goes on at this university. One Thursday a few weeks ago there were three different high profile events I wanted to go at the same time so I just had to pick one. It happens, deal with it. If the forum doesn't clash with one event it will clash with another, and if that's the complaint then the EAC chair is screwed no matter what he does. Cut the poor guy a break for goodness' sake.
#2 JEF
on May 12, 2008 at 2:03 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
So the ASUW suspends the election chair and no one really knows why? It seems crazy that Newbold wouldn't be told the reason, but crazier still that the only account of the meeting the Daily can find is the second hand observation of a student who attended the meeting for a different reason. Why are there no published minutes of the BOD meeting? For that matter, why isn't the meeting recorded on digital video so I can watch the entire thing on the bus ride to campus if I so choose? Why does no one question the secrecy of these events.
#3 Mark
on May 12, 2008 at 2:52 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
I could not agree with JEF more when it comes to the lack of student knowledge of what goes on in these BOD meetings. We DEMAND to know what goes on. We DEMAND published Board reports, which ARE NOT being posted on the asuw website.
This lack of knowledge provided by the BOD will only hurt student trust on their student government, and weaken their voice when it comes to issues that matter.
#4 a
on May 12, 2008 at 3:06 p.m.(Beaverton, OR | Unverified Name)
BOD minutes are posted at http://records.asuw.org as soon as they are apporved, which is always one week after the meeting is held. Look for the minutes to be posted for that meeting on Thursday.
Everyone would know this if the article was clearer or the ASUW website was more transparent. Also, nobody is going to video tape the full meetings because 1. nobody is going to realistically want to watch those and 2. it would take up way too much space and bandwidth to host.
Whenever the idiots behind the HuskyCast get tired of wasting everyone's time with cheap Star Wars gimmicks and tirades about Scientology, we may actually see footage of real news. I would encourage you to write to them with your concerns.
#5 b
on May 13, 2008 at 2:11 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
The board reports are published, so is all of the information that goes through the board (minus executive sessions, as per the Open Public Meetings Act in Washington State).
If you were curious about anything you could email anyone on the Board and you'll receive any documents you request.
As far as digital recording, that is a great idea but the bandwidth isn't an fiscally responsible use of student funds.
All BOD meetings are open and public, all students are invited to attend, if you're not there it's your own choice.
Also Wung, it is unethical for a member to leak information regarding a personnel issue from an executive session of a corporation. This story was written and published before the meeting between Newbold and the ASUW leadership has taken place.
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