Official Complaint Regarding Multiple SGA Violations
9/17/2009
To whom it may concern, As an elected Student Senator in the Student Government at UMASS Amherst for three years, it has come to my attention that the Justice for Jason group (www.justiceforjason.org/) (also known as CJJV or J4J) operates a desk within the UMASS Amherst's Student Government office that they use for their illicit t-shirt selling operation. To clarify, this is not conjecture, as I have seen the t-shirts (as you will below) I have seen the money and the advertisements for the program. But beyond my testimony, I have provided the receipts of the money trail. The t-shirts are bought with student fees allocated for other purposes, then resold with the proceeds going to the J4J defense fund. I am officially informing all involved parties, that this activity is unethical and illegal. Also, it is a potential violation of the Code of Student Conduct, http://www.umass.edu/dean_students/codeofconduct/, as well as inconsistent with the current SGA Constitution and By-laws. The SGA recommends the Student Activities Trust Fund Budget (a budget of approximately twomillion dollars) as an official request, but it is ultimately up to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, the Campus Budget Officers, the Chancellor and the University President for review and Trustee approval. The budget is also under the Trustees' jurisdiction. Therefore, while the following may have been what certain members of the student government intended to be done with SATF monies, if it was not specifically detailed in the presented package to the Trustees, or to the SGA body, it is a violation of the statutory understanding in the Wellman document that established the SGA to begin with. This is such a violation. As Speaker, Modesto, and as elected officials, Emily and Ngozi, and as appointed officials with this as an area of responsibility, Sakeema Kazmi, I assume that this notice will enact a compliance with the law. I feel that this is a violation of the public's trust and good will, and hope that this e -mail will resolve the situation. I further included the Coordinating Council on this e-mail, as they are in a position to stop this as well and are actively complicit if they fail to intervene. I also included the Secretary of Finance, Rick Pierre, perhaps the most important involved person in this situation, but since the SGA releases almost none of its information it has been impossible for myself to determine if Rick has had this position over the past year. Enclosed is a series of allegations, with provided evidence and then legal analysis. I am acknowledging that not all the allegations are fully demonstrated in this letter, but I provide ample evidence to suggest that the law way broken, and to start an investigation. I acknowledge that I do not have all the applicable information relevant to a full an exhaustive information, as finding this information requires confidential student information. This letter will demonstrate several facts as incontrovertible, and several other allegations as likely suspicions. A full investigation will determine right from wrong and determine who is ultimately to be held to account. It is ultimately up to the SGA leadership to change their behavior for the future such that the enclosed situation never happens again. I request that this letter be provided to every incoming Senator, to demonstrate the new system of accountability within the SGA. In addition, I will remind all recipients that as myself and other signatories are reporting on violations of the law, we qualify under whistleblower statutes protecting disclosures of such information. Specifically, we as Whistleblowers of violations of the Internal Revenue Code, as well as other laws, qualify for multiple whistleblower statute protection from reprisal. 2| P a g e