USFC Graduating Students Replaced
 

Mohamad Elfakhani
Outlook

Wednesday, September 29, 2004

 

As the summer semester began, the USFC witnessed 11 students graduate. In accordance with the USFC bylaws, the replacement of these students from their respective faculties was required.

Elections occurred smoothly within all faculties except in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS-SRC) where a question of when the elections should be held was debated. The main distinction was that if elections were to occur after graduation, then students who graduated would not be eligible to vote.

The FAS-SRC President, Bashar Harfoush, called for a meeting on May 27, 2004 to elect the four USFC members to replace those graduating. A few students however, went to Dean of Student Affairs Maroun Kisirwani and objected on the basis that according to the bylaws (article 2, item 8) elections should be done within two weeks after graduation of the students and not before. However, over the last few years, many elections have been done before graduation. According to Son's of Life and USFC member Shadi Yaghi, "The bylaws are clear for a reason. Seniors are not supposed to vote since they are graduating along with other seniors and so do not need representation."

Dean Kisirwani then sent an email on May 26 stating that elections should be done later, according to the bylaws. However, disregarding this email as illegal, the FAS-SRC proceeded with electing four USFC members the following day. A number of students boycotted this meeting. Dean Kisirwani, who is also chairman of the bylaws committee, did not acknowledge the meeting and those elected, based on complaints submitted that the bylaws were violated with the early election. Elections were later held with new members elected on June 17.

Later, after two meetings without a quorum reached, USFC cabinet elections were finally held with Shadi Yaghi elected as USFC secretary and Tarek Zebian, PYO member, elected as USFC treasurer. Ahmad Hassoun, an independent, defeated No Frontiers member Mansour Omeira seven to six with one voter abstaining for the position of VP of the USFC.

The coalition of FPM, Commoners, and No Frontiers who were allegedly supporting Omeira, were accused of intentionally boycotting the first two meetings without quorum being reached. Omeira, who was in opposition to the way elections were being held in the FAS-SRC stated, "I put on the agenda that we should discuss the elections that occurred in FAS-SRC, but my request was removed from the agenda the following meeting."

"I think Ahmad and Shadi will work very well together considering the common sections in their CV's," commented Omeira, referring to lines which were exactly the same between the two CV's submitted to the USFC including a common format. Omeira added, "I am very satisfied with what I have done this year and have put forth numerous projects and finalized them. I have always worked according to the rules and regulations and worked within all available administrative channels."

Concerning the proposed alliance between Yaghi, Zebian, and Hassoun, "We did not meet up and decide together," Yaghi explained, "we just felt that Ahmad Hassoun, as an independent would be best fit for the position."

Concerning the issue of Ahmad Hassoun being a newly elected member of the USFC and becoming the USFC VP, he explained, "I worked hard the whole year in the faculty of business SRC. I don't see what the problem is. I was elected in a democratic way. The votes of the members decided."

Shadi Yaghi added, "Members come and go in the USFC. It is not a criterion to have been a member before. Youssef Haddad, who was VP in 2002-03, had never even been a member of the SRC before. Ahmad has been active all year."

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