The ASNMU meeting this week began with the resignation of two more General Assembly members, College of Professional Studies Representative Brittany Voich and Down Campus Representative Sally Osentoski.
Voich, a General Assembly member for the past two years said in her letter of resignation that she has not enjoyed her position in ASNMU this year. She said she still feels the same as she always has about the group, but the recent ASNMU affairs no longer interest her.
Osentoski, a more recent member to the group, wrote a much longer letter of resignation.
“I do not want to be a part of an organization with such a poor reputation,” Osentoski said. “It saddens me that one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch. I have faith in ASNMU to restore its credibility.”
Jonathon Brady was then sworn into the General Assembly as the College of Business Representative.
The meeting then turned to College of Arts and Sciences Representative, Troy Morris who further expressed his frustration from last week’s meeting towards the “limbo” the group is in with the judiciary.
Associate Provost for Student Affairs Bill Bernard made his first appearance at an ASNMU meeting in 10 years. He gave his insight to the group along with relaying messages from others that he has received about their current situation.
“I know your heart is in the right place, but these reasons of resignations reinforce what I have heard on campus. You’re losing members faster then you’re gaining them,” Bernard said. “As a group, I implore you to take some sort of action on this as a group or individuals. Either find a way to work together and solve the impeachment issue or work together as an organization.”
Treasurer and Student Finance Committee Chairman John Comastro then offered his views on the current status of the impeachment process.
“I want to ask the president and vice president to step down,” Comastro said. “This conflict needs resolution.”
Several members of the General Assembly voiced their opinions as well and seemed to agree with Comastro’s outlook.
“I am more than willing to resign, but [Stanley is] first,” ASNMU Vice President Kelsey Hayes said. “I have done nothing wrong, but if that is what you want, I am willing to do so.”
Stanley gave no response.
The meeting was then adjourned.
Anon • Nov 13, 2012 at 11:08 pm
Dani – you are just a sore loser and you were a terrible Chair of the Assembly for ASNMU.
Dani T • Nov 8, 2012 at 7:57 pm
This is a depressing site. I served on ASNMU for four years. I saw an amazing administration under Hobie Webster where we accomplished many great things. After that we had Jason Morgan and the board was so cohesive that we worked together and still accomplished things; all be it, there were struggles, but we were still great together. Then we had Lucia Lopez. We gave her a chance and worked fairly well with her until she ditched us. We were better for it because she was never committed to the work ASNMU does, she thought she could just jump in and in some circumstances, that works, but she didn’t have heart for it. Courtney Russell was a good change, but there was so much tension within the board because Lucia left that nothing seemed to get done. Then we elected Justin Brugman. He had the heart for ASNMU and a passion but the board lacked direction and we accomplished very little. And then there is this year. I ran for VP and accepted defeat to Kelsey, and Ben won over Adam Papin, but it is depressing to see how far ASNMU has plummeted. ASNMU is no longer an acronym people use in conjunction with service to NMU. Every time I read or hear about ASNMU it is because of a negative connotation. I hate to see this. I served ASNMU for four years and stuck with it as it got worse and worse. I still love ASNMU and know that it can do so much good as long as there is strong, positive leadership. At this point I see only two things that can benefit the students of Northern Michigan University. Since the general assembly is not going to have a change of heart and accept Ben, and I believe Kelsey got involved for all the wrong reasons, ASNMU should either disband entirely which is a very rash decision or Ben and Kelsey need to step down together. This article only proves that no party is willing to step up and above to serve the students of NMU. I have heard so many rumors about agendas and plans for the future… I want to see these acts now. If Kelsey was so ready to resign at the last meeting but pulled out… she should just leave. She obviously doesn’t have the passion or dedication to ASNMU, so save all of the students the hassle and resign. As for Ben, I believe his heart is in the right place, most of the time, it is his head that gets in the way. If he will step down because he believes it will benefit ASNMU and NMU as a whole, then he needs to do it as well. ANSMU is getting smaller and smaller and the only way to dig their way out of a whole is to have a change in leadership. I am not sour because I did not win, I merely wish to see ASNMU in a positive light before I leave NMU in a few years. I know and have seen the good that can come from ASNMU so long as there is a cohesive front. I think that all parties need to step up to the plate and do what is right for the students of Northern Michigan University.