The SGA impeachment scandal has exploded into a firestorm of controversy, with the accused senator alleging half the senate drinks during meetings, and a senate committee choosing to shut out the media when likely discussing the issue of Pozin drinking on the job with witnesses in secrecy Friday.
Sources in SGA have confirmed to KnightNews.com tensions are mounting in the office, with many wondering if they could be accused of an impeachable offense next.
During an interview with KnightNews.com immediately following a senate committee meeting where Sen. Jereme Pozin’s impeachment was discussed, Pozin sat down with KnightNews.com and explained that if SGA creates a precedent that senators should be under no alcoholic influence while on the job, then half of Senate should already be impeached.
“During the 9 p.m. (senate) bathroom break, at least half of senate has had a beer at Wackadoos before,” Pozin said. “At least half of senate has had some type of alcoholic beverage in them at senate.”
The sweeping allegations against half the senate come as the SGA LJR committee engaged in an unprecedented practice of holding secret meetings as part of the impeachment proceedings. A former LJR chairman who oversaw Webster Cook’s impeachment proceedings confirmed that regular students were allowed inside the meeting — and were allowed to videotape. KnightNews.com tried to do the same thing Friday, but was kicked out and not allowed to videotape.
KnightNews.com contacted accused Sen. Jereme Pozin to ask his opinion about holding the secret meetings. Pozin didn’t know where the meetings were going on, and was informed of what was happening by KnightNews.com. He was shocked to hear the meetings were closed and hurried off the phone, apparently to demand answers.
It’s not clear whose idea it was to close the meeting, however, LJR Chairman Andreu Szempruch declined to discuss the reason and referred to a document sent by the SGA Attorney General and told KnightNews.com to see SGA adviser Christa Coffey for explanation. Coffey has told senators not to discuss the situation with media, according to multiple SGA sources.
It appears the decision to kick out media from the meeting was rushed.
KnightNews.com was given a “brief stance” on the issue of keeping the meeting secret that SGA Attorney General Nicholas Gurney wrote to Chair Szempruch. In the e-mail, Gurney made clear that a more thorough opinion would follow, but cited case law giving a very limited exception — that SGA must follow precisely to be allowed — that could possibly give them justification to close the meeting.
However, Gurney pointed out that SGA was by no way required to close it, and even seemed to suggest openness may be the best option — one at least worth considering.
“I will also say that while you may have the authority to be exempt from Sunshine Law, that doesn’t mean that you have to excercise that authority,” Gurney wrote. “You may still want to explore the possibility of keeping with open meeting practices.”
KnightNews.com was given no advance notice of SGA’s plans to close this meeting and no chance to protest the decision, or file an injunction in court to block the attempt.
It’s not yet clear what impact this decision could have on the impeachment proceedings, should someone challenge the validity of closing them either in the SGA Judicial Council or in an outside court of proper jurisdiction.
Just a few months ago, Beta Theta Pi challenged the UCF General Counsel’s opinions in court, and the university backed down and settled, after members in Beta told KnightNews.com things appeared to be going in Beta’s favor.
KnightNews.com got a comment from SGA Speaker Drew Pope in response to allegations that half the UCF SGA Senate drinks at Wackadoos.
Pope wrote: “To my knowledge, I have never witnessed a senator getting drunk during the senate recess, and neither myself or SGA condone such activities. Being inebriated during a meeting, would be a violation of our rules and statutes at the very least. There is more to the affidavit than just the allegations that Senator Pozin was intoxicated, and I encourage this not to be the focus of attention from the media.”
