Members of the Student Assembly voted against impeaching Student Association Vice President of Multicultural Affairs David Redbord during a secret ballot Monday night. The vote yielded 13 affirmative, 14 negations and two abstentions.
During the meeting, members of the SA alleged Redbord misrepresented the intentions of members of the Assembly to the Intercultural Awareness Committee following the ICA’s move under the Student Group Council. Redbord was also accused of continuing actions to instate the Cultural Exchange Through Hospitality Program (CETH) after members of the Executive Board notified him of liability issues.
The main topic of discussion, however, was the charge that Redbord read aloud an e-mail from a member of a Korean cultural group in the SA office and mocked the student’s grammar. The student had e-mailed Redbord questioning their ability to receive payment for a performance.
Cultural group members spoke out in support of Redbord during a public comment session of the meeting.
Students from the Binghamton Association of Mixed Students (BAMS), The Juvenile Multicultural Program and the Asian Student Union gave character statements on the VPMA’s behalf.
“I can speak of his character,” said Brenda Mercado, the public relations director for the Juvenile Urban Multicultural Program. “He was a great supporter of our programs, and he was there during meetings and events, which is more than I can say for the rest of the SA that doesn’t show up to our events at all.”
“Impeachment is not the key,” she added. “If you want to punish him, that’s cool. But impeachment is taking it too far.”
Jade Gardener, a member of BAMS, said Redbord had made the SA “personable,” stating that she felt the SA was not accurately representing the desires of the student body.
“I can’t help but feel like there’s something wrong with this group,” Gardner said. “As representatives of Binghamton University you need to do something to be a little more cohesive,” she said.
Following the Public Comment session, SA members were given the opportunity to speak for and against the impeachment.
SA President David Bass spoke against impeaching Redbord, stating that he had been fulfilling the duties of his office.
“If we’re going to remove someone from office then there must be a strong indication that he wasn’t doing the job he was elected to do,” Bass said.
Bass went on to list the numerous successful programs Redbord has put on this year, including the Breaking Bread/Breaking Boundaries program and several multicultural banquets. He also stressed that Redbord revitalized the Intercultural Awareness Committee, and treated his position with seriousness and respect.
“We’re all human,” Bass said. “If David mocked a student for language issues, that was out of line. But he offered a frank apology, and it was accepted.”
Redbord claimed that he brought the e-mail to the attention of the office because he was concerned with a student group asking for money.
“I want to begin by saying that I made a grave mistake in my presentation of this e-mail,” said Redbord. “And I would, and I have, taken it back.”
Upon being asked by Boris Tadchiev whether he read the e-mail because of monetary issues or grammar, Redbord said “I really wanted to get to the bottom of the money issue.”
SA members in favor of the impeachment were also given a chance to speak.
“Regardless of the job he was doing, David Redbord misrepresented the SA to the ICA, the ICA to the SA, and mocked a student after he was asked several times to stop talking,” said Chris Powell, vice president for Finance. “It wasn’t professional, and that’s the end of the story.”
Powell’s sentiments were echoed by Matt Landau, vice president for Academic Affairs.
“Reading the e-mail and making fun of someone’s English is inexcusable for a member of the E-Board,” said Landau. “If he did this in a dorm or restaurant, a private setting, then it wouldn’t have been impeachable. But he made them in an SA office, in front of a crowd of people. The SA office should be a place that doesn’t make anyone uncomfortable.”
“The only way to change the way the SA treats all students is to remove David Redbord and get someone that will promote diversity, not make fun of it,” Landau added. “Impeach him tonight, and put the SA back on track.”
Following the meeting, Redbord said he would press on with his efforts to expand multiculturalism at BU.
“I am happy with the results, and look forward to continuing,” Redboard said. “I have worked extremely hard to promote multiculturalism on campus, and I will continue to do so.”