The student seat on the University at Buffalo Council is, by far, one of the most prestigious positions available to an aspiring UB scholar.
It's unfortunate to learn that both Ilia Nossov and Creighton Randall, the lone candidates in what is usually a crowded race, blatantly violated election policy.
A simple set of election rules and regulations was adopted by the Council of Student Governments to manage the yearly race. The idea is to ensure a level playing field, but Nossov and Randall dug so many ruts that they both fell flat on their faces.
Jennifer Wantz, Student Life's Assistant Director of Student Activities, oversees the annual online election. She cannot recall a University Council candidate ever violating election law in the past, but this year she has two.
The Council is comprised of some of the most prominent civic leaders and CEOs from throughout the Western New York community - it's an honor and a privilege to serve as a peer among these individuals. In their desperation to play hardball with UB's fat cats, the duo seems to have cast common sense aside.
Is it possible that after committing obvious election violations that the winner, Nossov, will be taken seriously as our student representative? He's already at the bottom rung given that he is a student among principal university figures.
However now Nossov has degraded himself to an unfathomable and embarrassing low.
Wantz, however, neglected to do her part in keeping this process clean and professional.
According to Randall, Wantz canceled the traditional "election rules and regulations meeting" because only two candidates were running. Historically at this meeting each rule is carefully reviewed and defined, and any questions are decisively answered.
This year's candidates were not afforded this lesson.
Wantz's disregard for this aspect of the election creates a problem when it comes to laying down the law - apparently she doesn't take the issue serious enough. So how then can she hold either candidate's feet to the fire?
In hindsight, Nossov and Randall are both of reasonable intelligence, and whether or not Wantz walked them through the rules, they still should have been able to deduce the fact that what they did was wrong.
Hopefully the candidates can somehow redeem themselves after damaging their reputations and the image of UB's 27,000-student population - maybe all of the community service hours they racked up will do the trick.
Standing behind decisions
Handling of Asbie's firing shows poor leadership
When the University at Buffalo basketball team takes the court next year a familiar face will not be in attendance - former student relations coordinator Eddie Asbie.
Asbie, who has been an integral part in establishing a strong fan base within the UB community, recently found himself with former swimming coach Bud Termin joining the contract-not-renewed community.
Though Asbie's employment was with both the athletic department and Student Life neither group will provide any worthwhile information regarding his release.
Student Life maintains that it was the athletic department's decision, and the athletic department has provided but a couple of sentences regarding the termination of the man who gave three years to the student body and student athletes.
Among the Alumni Arena faithful, Asbie will be missed. From instilling pride in the now-popular Mighty Maniacs to motivating the adults and children of all ages in attendance at the games, it's hard to find a Bulls fan that doesn't know Asbie for his spirit and charisma.
The reasoning behind Asbie's dismissal - budgetary reasons, officially - could be understandable. The problem is, nobody will address the issue directly and frankly. Someone needs to take responsibility, and good, bad or in-between, a little justification and a little more information is necessary.
Part of being in charge is more than an extra paycheck and a better parking spot; it is the responsibility to do what must be done, and say what must be said regardless of the situation.
Fans are upset over the loss of Asbie and rightfully so - even if he was fired justly, nobody bothered to say so. Sweeping unpleasant business under the rug does nothing more than upset onlookers and leave staff wondering who's next; the administrators who decided to let Asbie go need to publicly stand behind their decision.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
