Once again, Undergraduate Student Government President Rob Kampia is under senate scrutiny about the use of office supply funds.
A motion filed in last night’s senate meeting called for Kampia’s impeachment to discover the whereabouts of an answering machine and a briefcase that were to have been purchased over the summer. This motion, however, failed and was replaced by an ad hoc committee which will investigate the supplies which remain unaccounted for.
“I made no accusations of guilt,” explained East Halls Senator Bob Torres. “There are simple numbers on a receipt, and I want to know why.”
Torres said an impeachment is a formal investigation to look for wrongdoing. It is not an accusation of guilt, but rather a discovery process.
The motion for impeachment was brought forward by Senate President Mike Gillespie. Purchase orders were issued to Kampia and Chuck Thomas, University alumnus and USG executive secretary, for the purpose of buying an answering machine and a briefcase, Gillespie said.
While reviewing the USG purchases, the Student Organization Budget Committee found the purchase orders for the items were drawn from improper accounts, and said they would not cover them. The funds were drawn from the office supplies account.
SOBC said the funds for the answering machine should have been drawn from office equipment funds, and the funds for the briefcase were a personal expense.
Gillespie said he began looking through purchases made at the Penn State Bookstore on Campus yesterday morning, and found the receipt for the items which have not been seen at the office.
“I haven’t seen the briefcase,” Gillespie said. “And if you’ve called the office at night, you know there’s not an answering machine.”
Town Senator Paul Yacisin voraciously opposed the motion to impeach.
“I think we’re proceeding too rashly,” he said. “There’s a process and a procedure for doing this and this is not it. Rob should be given the opportunity to answer for these (allegations) before an impeachment begins.”
Kampia was not present at last night’s meeting and was unavailable for comment. Earlier in the day, Kampia announced he was minimizing his contact with the senate because of prior investigations.
Torres said if Kampia had been present for the senate meeting, he would have been able to answer the allegations.
“Rob has a place here on the agenda,” Torres said. “He’s not here as he should be.”
Gillespie said he felt the impeachment was a necessary measure to ensure Kampia’s due process rights. Gillespie was bothered that the motion failed and felt Kampia’s rights were violated.
“Since justice was ignored, this ad hoc committee has to be done to compensate,” he said.
Pollock/Nittany Halls Senator Lisa Fields was appointed chair of the ad hoc committee. The committee will report to the senate next Tuesday and recommend action from their findings.
Gillespie said this motion was not one of a personal nature, but one of justice.
“I want everybody to know this is not a witch hunt,” Gillespie said. “This is simply a process to make sure everybody is accountable. If Rob would have been here tonight, he could have answered (the allegations).”