JOZEF SPITERI, A candidate for vp social in the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) elections and current vp social affairs for the Students’ Association of the Faculty of Arts (SAFA), will face SAFA’s Board of Directors tonight in an emergency meeting.
According to Sean Green, SAFA president, there are 29 separate grounds for Spiteri’s impeachment from his post as vp social affairs, which break five different sections of the SAFA constitution. The motion to remove Spiteri from his position came from the remaining seven SAFA executive members, said Green.
“This motion, if passed, will initiate an impeachment process against the vp social affairs,” wrote Green in an email to the Fulcrum.
“In the case that the motion passes, the board will set a time within the next week, as they see fit, to listen to the claims of those seven members, the response from the vp social affairs, and then questions and debate from the board. It is at this meeting that a vote on impeachment would occur.”
According to Greene, “There are 13 references to 6.3.1.1., one reference to 6.3.1.2., one reference to 6.3.1.3, eight references to 6.3.1.4, and six references to 6.3.1.5.”
If the SAFA board votes to impeach Spiteri, every claim will be evaluated before the final decision is made.
—Jane Lytvynenko
Excerpt from SAFA constitution:
| 6.3. Impeachment |
| 6.3.1. Any member of the Executive Committee may be impeached on any of the following grounds: |
| 6.3.1.1. Mismanagement of funds: wilful misuse of SAFA funds for personal gain; failure to follow approved spending guidelines; continual or severe failure to document expenditures for audit purposes; the loaning of SAFA funds to any individual or outside group with or without a rate of interest outside of the subsidies guidelines outlined in this document; theft, embezzlement, fraud, or any failure to comply with Canadian law or Ontario provincial law regarding the management of funds. |
| 6.3.1.2. Failure to follow the regulations of the Constitution without just cause. |
| 6.3.1.3. Wilful misrepresentation of SAFA regarding the decisions of the Board of Directors, the Annual General Meeting, or referendum. |
| 6.3.1.4. Abuse of power: wilful use of a position of authority to influence an outcome that is favourable to the individual in question; harassment or intimidation of any person to influence a decision; use of SAFA resources in a fraudulent manner, or any violation of a position of trust as outlined by Canadian law or Ontario provincial law. |
| 6.3.1.5. Placing SAFA at risk. |
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And every charge was withdrawn.
They actually were not, the SAFA exec retracted their motion. As Anon stated, Jozef did say there was validity to the claims. I think it’s really easy for people to say that this is due to lack of leadership or lack or organization especially if they don’t attend the monthly board of directors meetings, or at the very least, read the minutes.
Jozef, however, is the best candidate for VP Social for the SFUO.
These allegations shout bias, poor research and lack of professionalism. Never mind, neglect of student interest. Mr. Spiteri has thrown countless events that have exceeded those thrown by the SFUO. He has gone above and beyond. The allegations are substantiated by outdated information and merely demonstrate a lack of leadership and teamwork from the SAFA executive.
One would think 3rd and 4th year students who have been elected into positions would have the capacity and integrity to research terms prior to putting them forward in such a public light. Clearly, nobody in this instance did. Such empty and unfounded allegations just make me wonder what sort of effort the executive puts towards their mandates and where their priorities truly lie.
Looking forward to Arts Ball and yet another Spiteri Event,
R
Clearly you don’t have the capacity and integrity to do your own research before criticizing. The allegations were founded. M.Spiteri said so himself. In response to your “teamwork” snipe, it takes the cooperation of ALL the members of the SAFA to work in a team together, if not it becomes a toxic environment, which I believe is what led to the motion. I’m confident, like they said at the BOD, that the problems will be resolved and they will be able to work in a team for the remainder of their mandates.
Things aren’t always as black and white as they appear.
Are we going to get any more information on this? Twenty nine separate grounds for impeachment sounds extremely suspect. Jozef is one of the hardest working people in student politics at this school right now, and I’m sure if there had been a problem within their exec, it would have come up before now in their exec meetings. Awkward political sabotage much?
Innocent until proven guilty… or until you admit to all of it.
It seems that if all seven members of the ARTS executive aside from Jozef claim there is grounds for impeachment… they may have a good reason. Oh and don’t forget Jozef himself said that the executives claims were valid on Sunday. I think it’s good to see that Jozef wants to correct these issues, but I’m still not sure I will vote for him to run my SFUO…