After heated debate, accusations, suspicion and several days of generalized tension, Tim Schiavone was democratically chosen by the Brookdale Resident Student Council as their choice for Brookdale’s new commissioner.
The Brookdale Resident Student Council had finished the Spring semester with high hopes. They had fought successfully for a referendum that raised student activities fee by $2.75, and allocated this money exclusively into the Brookdale campus, an increase of about $70,000 a year for the council. Ray Hoffman was very popular among the council-members in his position as the Brookdale Commissioner and everything seemed to be working well.
When the first meeting of the Fall semester was called to order and Hoffman wasn't there, some saw dark clouds on the horizon. When he came to the next meeting declaring his resignation from the commissioner position, all knew that serious problems were coming. Hoffman had been the spearhead of the referendum project, and now he was leaving before the money was even budgeted. The council had to move on, but since the commissioner position is an Undergraduate Student Government (USG) executive position elected by all hunter students, they didn't have much to do except democratically decide who would be presented to USG as the council's suggestion for commissioner. They chose Tim Schiavone, a Political Science major who is a conflict resolution enthusiast.
On September 22, Schiavone had his first introductory meeting with USG to report on the situation and to submit himself for their approval. The meeting began very tensely. The first question asked by the USG officials regarded ICE (Ideal College Environment), a new political party critical of the current USG administration, SLAM. The interviewers proceeded to question Schiavone's political leanings, and that's where the stories diverge. The meeting was not recorded, and no reporters were present at the most crucial moments of the dialogue.
Schiavone declared that, as Brookdale commissioner, he would take a "non-political" stance. When asked to elaborate, he claims to have said that "if the Envoy publishes an article on Haitians, that's the kind of stuff Brookdale shouldn't be involved in." After saying this he looked around, and noticing that at least three of the USG officers present were of Haitian descent, said, "Oops! did I pick the wrong group?" The USG officers smiled among themselves and passed little notes written on dollar bills, according to Schiavone. The meeting was over.
Schiavone says that he had a good impression of the meeting, and on the 23rd, confident that the commissioner position was guaranteed, he prepared his speech and picked up his seldom worn suit. Schiavone was running for the position of Hunter College Ombudsman, a very important position that has never been occupied by a student.
At the senate meeting, on Sept. 24, in which Schiavone was running against a faculty member for the position, a letter was distributed to all present but him. The letter, approved by ranking members of the USG, stated that "based on insensitive comments made in regard to persons of Haitian decent [sic] by Mr. Schiavone... it is our strong opinion that Schiavone may not meet the important qualifications or have the empathy necessary to fill the position of ombudsman." The letter goes on to say that "Schiavone's stated opinion of the Hunter Envoy's coverage of the Abner Louima case is that it is not something that he “cared about.”
Schiavone lost the election by 81 to 9. There were at least twenty voting students present. Schiavone said that he “expected to lose, after all [his] adversary is faculty, and a lawyer.”
On Sept. 24 at 10 p.m. on the 13th floor of the Brookdale main building, a Brookdale Student Resident Council was called to order. Chaired by the current VP, Rebecca Daviage, the meeting promised to finally solve Brookdale's dilemma or to further drive the council into chaos and inaction.
There were at least six members of SLAM present and standing in the back of the room. One of the most outspoken of them was Roger Bonair-Agard, the USG finance commissioner. He began by declaring, "We are not two warring factions." Some disagreed.
The first shocking statement was made by Schiavone, declaring his resignation in interest in the Brookdale commissioner position. This followed Hoffman's statement that "Tim is clearly no longer the best candidate. I suggest he steps down." The meeting proceeded with heated arguments between Brookdale and USG members that, although misguided and at times beside the point, were important in venting Brookdale's frustrations with their dependence on USG and also to give USG a chance to publicly reveal their points of view on Brookdale.
After about two hours of this, a motion was made to officially suggest a new commissioner for USG approval. Schiavone's chances of ever becoming commissioner were fading, but what was very concrete were the clear signs of tension and sadness in his face. He looked down at the floor most of the time.
That was when Samantha Good, a Brookdale council member, stepped in, bravely going against the tide and said, "I think we're giving up on Tim too easily." That stirred the controversy and gave courage to several who had remained silent thus far. "They didn't even confront him on it. They passed a note. That upsets me greatly!" yelled a resident.
Schiavone decided to speak in his defense, basically arguing that the letter was composed of out of context quotes and lies, but, trying not to be confrontational, he said, "maybe it was my mistake. I apologize."
Schiavone then ran against two other candidates who appeared in the scene. The first lost on the preliminary vote and the second, Antonio Vega-Strugs, lost by 14 to 2. Schiavone remains the Brookdale Council's choice for chancellor.
After a short, anti-climatic debate, the meeting was adjourned. Schiavone was to declare, “I can still do a good job because it was all cleared up. I think that the dialogue process is beginning." When asked about the nature of the letter, he said, "the comment was never about Louima, but these things happen."
Bonair-Agard, when asked about the letter, was succinct. "Tim spoke. We reacted. I agree with the spirit of the letter."
