2008 Woodie Awards
UPDATE: Pilchen resigns at Senate meeting
Hopkins opens up VP application process to student body
Nick Fitzgerald | Editor in Chief (VIO)
Last Updated:9/15/08 Section: Student Assembly
UPDATE: At a meeting of the SA Senate on September 2, SA Vice President Zach Pilchen ('09) resigned from his office. In a statement, Mr. Pilchen outlined the timeline of his misappropriations, asserting firmly that the only accidental purchase was that of two movie tickets. "That instance was an accident. Later in early May I was running low on personal cash, made several small purchases with the SA card and I would reimburse the first chance I got."
"The $138.51 I loaned myself has now been reimbursed in full and all accounts have been properly switched over," he said. This is in reference to the fact that the account information connected to the SA debit card was still in the name of Mr. Pilchen and former Undersecretary for Finance and current Editor in Chief of The Virginia Informer Andrew Blasi ('10). The fact that the card remained in the names of Messrs. Blasi and Pilchen is a violation of Student Assembly policy. The SA policy states that the names on the accounts must be switched over within five days of the new president's inauguration.
"I'm disappointed in myself," he said. "This is completely unacceptable....I cannot bog [the SA] down with the sort of internal strife that I have always despised," he said. "For that reason, I am resigning my position as vice president of the Student Assembly effective immediately." Mr. Pilchen closed in saying, "I can only ask for your understanding and forgiveness, and that you will remember my service with you for what we accomplished rather than my failings in this instance."
Mr. Pilchen's statement was followed by words from SA President Valerie Hopkins ('09). "As I'm sure most of you can understand," she opened, "it's border line unbearable to be here and be giving this address....I can't think of anyone I've spent more hours working with, talking to and confiding in, so it's difficult for me to imagine the SA without him. I really respect him for deciding to resign. This shows that he is putting the best interests of the SA before himself. I do not condone his behavior or approve of his decision. Had I any knowledge of it, I would have told him so," she said.
Ms. Hopkins asserted that student confidence in the SA is "at an all time low." To that point, she has officially opened up the vice president selection process, via application, to all interested members of the student body. The vetting committee will consist of Ms. Hopkins, Senator Walter McClean ('09) and a yet-to-be-selected graduate student. The time frame for the selection, as provided by the SA Constitution, is 14 academic days.
"Effective immediately, there will be a cessation of all executive spending until further notice," said Ms. Hopkins. She announced that a full investigation of the account's activity has begun, and that all the records therefrom will be made open to the public. In concluding, Ms. Hopkins stated that she "did not know about any of these purchases but I do assume responsibility for them."
Senator Matt Beato ('09) made clear during the Senate meeting that he was not interested whatsoever in the vice presidential slot. "I don't think it's appropriate for me to put myself up for that position. It's not a position I'm interested in. After my loss in city council I was intrigued by the prospect of going back to being a senator. So I want to let everyone know," he said.
Senator and Virginia Informer News Editor Steven Nelson ('10) was the only senator to speak up during public comment on Ms. Hopkins' statement. His comments were animated and harshly critical of those whom he considered to have brought about Mr. Pilchen's resignaton. He said he was "embarrassed" by those who were acting in a "petty" manner concerning the $138.51 owed by Mr. Pilchen. "I think $140 is especially minor and has been spent on a lot worse things," he said. He was extremely critical of the coverage of Mr. Pilchen's expenditures by The Flat Hat. Mr. Nelson referred to The Flat Hat's coverage as "misleading."
"Zach did not resign because he did anything wrong. He resigned because of this," he said, clutching a copy of The Flat Hat.
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According to three independent sources, The Virginia Informer has learned that SA Vice President Zach Pilchen ('09) will resign from office tonight at a meeting of the SA Senate. The resignation comes quickly on the heels of the revelation that Mr. Pilchen spent SA funds to the amount of $138.51 on movie tickets, cigarettes and sandwiches.
The Senate meeting will be held in Tucker.
***Developing...***
"The $138.51 I loaned myself has now been reimbursed in full and all accounts have been properly switched over," he said. This is in reference to the fact that the account information connected to the SA debit card was still in the name of Mr. Pilchen and former Undersecretary for Finance and current Editor in Chief of The Virginia Informer Andrew Blasi ('10). The fact that the card remained in the names of Messrs. Blasi and Pilchen is a violation of Student Assembly policy. The SA policy states that the names on the accounts must be switched over within five days of the new president's inauguration.
"I'm disappointed in myself," he said. "This is completely unacceptable....I cannot bog [the SA] down with the sort of internal strife that I have always despised," he said. "For that reason, I am resigning my position as vice president of the Student Assembly effective immediately." Mr. Pilchen closed in saying, "I can only ask for your understanding and forgiveness, and that you will remember my service with you for what we accomplished rather than my failings in this instance."
Mr. Pilchen's statement was followed by words from SA President Valerie Hopkins ('09). "As I'm sure most of you can understand," she opened, "it's border line unbearable to be here and be giving this address....I can't think of anyone I've spent more hours working with, talking to and confiding in, so it's difficult for me to imagine the SA without him. I really respect him for deciding to resign. This shows that he is putting the best interests of the SA before himself. I do not condone his behavior or approve of his decision. Had I any knowledge of it, I would have told him so," she said.
Ms. Hopkins asserted that student confidence in the SA is "at an all time low." To that point, she has officially opened up the vice president selection process, via application, to all interested members of the student body. The vetting committee will consist of Ms. Hopkins, Senator Walter McClean ('09) and a yet-to-be-selected graduate student. The time frame for the selection, as provided by the SA Constitution, is 14 academic days.
"Effective immediately, there will be a cessation of all executive spending until further notice," said Ms. Hopkins. She announced that a full investigation of the account's activity has begun, and that all the records therefrom will be made open to the public. In concluding, Ms. Hopkins stated that she "did not know about any of these purchases but I do assume responsibility for them."
Senator Matt Beato ('09) made clear during the Senate meeting that he was not interested whatsoever in the vice presidential slot. "I don't think it's appropriate for me to put myself up for that position. It's not a position I'm interested in. After my loss in city council I was intrigued by the prospect of going back to being a senator. So I want to let everyone know," he said.
Senator and Virginia Informer News Editor Steven Nelson ('10) was the only senator to speak up during public comment on Ms. Hopkins' statement. His comments were animated and harshly critical of those whom he considered to have brought about Mr. Pilchen's resignaton. He said he was "embarrassed" by those who were acting in a "petty" manner concerning the $138.51 owed by Mr. Pilchen. "I think $140 is especially minor and has been spent on a lot worse things," he said. He was extremely critical of the coverage of Mr. Pilchen's expenditures by The Flat Hat. Mr. Nelson referred to The Flat Hat's coverage as "misleading."
"Zach did not resign because he did anything wrong. He resigned because of this," he said, clutching a copy of The Flat Hat.
----------------------------------
According to three independent sources, The Virginia Informer has learned that SA Vice President Zach Pilchen ('09) will resign from office tonight at a meeting of the SA Senate. The resignation comes quickly on the heels of the revelation that Mr. Pilchen spent SA funds to the amount of $138.51 on movie tickets, cigarettes and sandwiches.
The Senate meeting will be held in Tucker.
***Developing...***
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Student
posted 9/02/08 @ 5:39 PM EST
Obviously I am no fan of the Virginia Informer, but, credit where it's due, this is a great scoop.
Mac B
posted 9/02/08 @ 5:43 PM EST
Great reporting guys. Beat the flat hat on this one.
LO
posted 9/02/08 @ 8:18 PM EST
Great article, but on a side note it sounds like one of those stories from The Onion that takes a minor occurrence and describes it in serious language:
"In a statement, Mr. (Continued…)
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