Body rejects veep pick

In the last scheduled forum of the 2004-05 term, Student Congress rejected Adrian Johnston as the student body vice presidential nominee after extensive debate.

As of press time, Congress had vetoed Johnston’s appointment by a 12-7 vote with two abstentions. A two-thirds majority vote was needed to finalize all executive branch appointments up for approval.

“The process has failed the student body,” Student Body President-elect Seth Dearmin said after the ordeal.

Following the decision, Congress moved to table the discussion until March 29, when they will reconsider their vote.

Johnston’s appointment, one of five Dearmin made Sunday and one of three addressed at the meeting, was unique in the contention it attracted.

Nominations of Daneen Furr and Neepa Mehta to the posts of student body treasurer and secretary, respectively, were approved without a hitch.

“I think this was a tough process on everybody,” said Student Body President Matt Calabria. “It was really wrenching for everyone in the room.”

Concerns about Johnston surfaced during a meeting of Congress’ Rules and Judiciary Committee on Monday. The committee ultimately took a neutral stance on his appointment, leaving the decision to the full Congress.

Points of contention raised Tuesday night ranged from secrecy in the nomination process to Johnston’s perceived biases.

To counter allegations that he might have behaved in a sexist manner while campaigning for Dearmin, the VP appointee, who served as Dearmin’s campaign manager, introduced Congress members to two campaigners who worked with him. Both Dani Janklow and Eve Carson described Johnston as a leader and said he treated women respectfully.

“It offends everything that I believe in,” Johnston said in direct response to Congress member Anisa Mohanty’s remark that she felt “devalued” when communicating with Johnston while the two served on Dearmin’s election team.

“This is not an accurate depiction of my character in the least,” he said.

Luke Farley, Rules and Judiciary Committee chairman, questioned how Congress members could draw accurate comparisons between candidates for the post when they could not examine Johnston’s two competitors.

This concern sparked discussion of Congress members’ overarching stance against closed selection committee proceedings and their frustration with being unable to view a paper trail or listen to deliberations about executive applicants.

“There is an ongoing discussion as to the search committee’s deliberations and proceedings being kept secret,” Farley said before the forum.

But Calabria said Congress has no reason to complain.

“Legally, this is as clean as a whistle,” he said, explaining that the selection committee does not meet requirements to open its meetings under N.C. law. “There is no obligation whatsoever to release information.”

Dearmin and Johnston’s friendship also drew fire, as Congress members worried about the effects the personal might have had on the professional

“Friendship with the student body president is not a legitimate reason to reject a student body vice president,” Dearmin said. “Adrian competed with everyone that applied and won out.”

Johnston said he looks forward to taking an active role in student government next year, regardless of the debate’s outcome.

“Student Congress is doing its job as it sees it,” he said.

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.