(no subject)
Recently my name has come up and I've been attacked personally a number of times, and people have begun to pass around lies about me. I'm writing this in an attempt to clarify some, and I say some because there is plenty more out there, of what has been said. I can only speak for myself when my name or my position was called out as I point to some of the mis-truths out there.
Remember, this is Azim Kasmani the individual speaking here. Not the MSU, not the SRA, not the Executive Board, and not any other individual or organization.
1) "The Vice-President Finance backed by the Executive Board immediately challenged the Speaker of the MSU on the grounds that the SRA should not be discussing any decision of the Board of Directors."
-I voted that the issue should be dealt with by the SRA.
2) "The SRA did have the right to discuss the actions of the Board of Directors much to the anger of the BoD and the Executive Board."
-Therefore, I was not angry.
3) "Kasmani and Park both spoke strongly against [the roll call vote]. They felt that it was a bully tactic on the part of students. They are correct that it was students "bullying" the SRA to actually let us know how they are representing us."
-Never did I say it was students bullying us. I felt that SRA members would not vote how they actually felt considering we were voting on the job performance of an individual in a very public way. As is noted, I still voted how I felt. What isn't noted is the number of abstentions, possibly showing that people were in fact uncomfortable voting like that (they may also have been unsure). When you have to keep working with someone, voting against them can potentially hurt and strain your working relationship.
If students want roll call votes, they should make that clear, and that practice should become the norm.
4) "Finally, the discussion on the Silhouette situation was to begin. At this point, Dowell moved to adjourn. They had the majority and the meeting ended in defiance of students present."
-The meeting was capped at 2 hours, and that was done at the beginning of the meeting. I must point out that I was not there when this was determined (I was late as we were picking up snacks for the meeting). No students/constituents approached me to put a motion on the agenda. Had they asked me, I would have added this item and asked that it be placed first on the agenda.
I voted to adjourn because I had an exam the next day which I had to study for.
5) "After the meeting, numerous members of the EB and BoD threatened me if I blogged on the issue."
-I can only speak for myself here. I did not make any threats. I asked Mr Coleman to understand that the item was not discussed as it was not appropriately placed on the agenda ahead of time, and a lengthy meeting would not be possilbe as it was during exam period. I also asked him to avoid blaming this on the entire MSU, the MSU Executive, or me personally (all three imply my name, and so I didn't want to be held responsible) because I was not asked by any constituents to place any items of business on the agenda.
I am sure no one is trying to imply that I did make threats, but unfortunately due to the wording people may assume I was one of those members of the EB who made threats. This was not the case.
Remember, this is Azim Kasmani the individual speaking here. Not the MSU, not the SRA, not the Executive Board, and not any other individual or organization.
1) "The Vice-President Finance backed by the Executive Board immediately challenged the Speaker of the MSU on the grounds that the SRA should not be discussing any decision of the Board of Directors."
-I voted that the issue should be dealt with by the SRA.
2) "The SRA did have the right to discuss the actions of the Board of Directors much to the anger of the BoD and the Executive Board."
-Therefore, I was not angry.
3) "Kasmani and Park both spoke strongly against [the roll call vote]. They felt that it was a bully tactic on the part of students. They are correct that it was students "bullying" the SRA to actually let us know how they are representing us."
-Never did I say it was students bullying us. I felt that SRA members would not vote how they actually felt considering we were voting on the job performance of an individual in a very public way. As is noted, I still voted how I felt. What isn't noted is the number of abstentions, possibly showing that people were in fact uncomfortable voting like that (they may also have been unsure). When you have to keep working with someone, voting against them can potentially hurt and strain your working relationship.
If students want roll call votes, they should make that clear, and that practice should become the norm.
4) "Finally, the discussion on the Silhouette situation was to begin. At this point, Dowell moved to adjourn. They had the majority and the meeting ended in defiance of students present."
-The meeting was capped at 2 hours, and that was done at the beginning of the meeting. I must point out that I was not there when this was determined (I was late as we were picking up snacks for the meeting). No students/constituents approached me to put a motion on the agenda. Had they asked me, I would have added this item and asked that it be placed first on the agenda.
I voted to adjourn because I had an exam the next day which I had to study for.
5) "After the meeting, numerous members of the EB and BoD threatened me if I blogged on the issue."
-I can only speak for myself here. I did not make any threats. I asked Mr Coleman to understand that the item was not discussed as it was not appropriately placed on the agenda ahead of time, and a lengthy meeting would not be possilbe as it was during exam period. I also asked him to avoid blaming this on the entire MSU, the MSU Executive, or me personally (all three imply my name, and so I didn't want to be held responsible) because I was not asked by any constituents to place any items of business on the agenda.
I am sure no one is trying to imply that I did make threats, but unfortunately due to the wording people may assume I was one of those members of the EB who made threats. This was not the case.