Correction: The original version of this article contained an error. Rustom Z. Birdie is a third-year economics and human biology student.
The undergraduate student government has yet to find an official replacement financial supports commissioner after Rustom Z. Birdie resigned nearly two weeks ago.
Birdie, a third-year economics and human biology student, was found guilty of “wrongdoing” by the Judicial Board for using office resources to promote a startup web company Jobbook.com.
After Undergraduate Students Association Council members discussed Birdie’s dishonesty in not disclosing his relationship with Jobbook, Birdie resigned, leaving an open spot on council.
Since then, Anthony Beightol, a third-year sociology student and Birdie’s chief of staff, has informally taken on the role of commissioner since Birdie’s resignation, although Birdie has been playing an advisory role in explaining the procedural and administrative nuances of the office.
Beightol and Birdie are currently roommates, but Beightol said that he never felt awkward about the controversy surrounding Birdie throughout his Judicial Board hearings and ensuing resignation.
When the Judicial Board was investigating Birdie’s relationship with Jobbook, Beightol was called as a witness. He admitted having a short conversation with Birdie about Birdie’s contractual obligations to the company and said that he knew Birdie was supposed to receive 1,000 shares of stock in the site.
Since Birdie resigned after the midpoint of his term, it is USAC President Jasmine Hill’s job to appoint his replacement. She is not required to name a replacement, however, because USAC needs only nine officers to hold meetings. Without Birdie, 12 students still sit on the council.
Although Birdie said he believes Beightol would be a good fit for commissioner, Hill said that Beightol’s implication in the Jobbook controversy does not make him an ideal candidate as the replacement.
Hill pointed out that Beightol was one of the few staff members who knew about Birdie’s contractual relationship with Jobbook.
Beightol said that he disagrees with Hill’s assessment of the situation.
“I feel like I was able to keep (the controversy) separate from official student government work,” he said. “I was a supportive as a friend, but I separated that from my duties as chief of staff.”
Beightol said he emailed Hill expressing his interest in officially taking the position of financial supports commissioner but never got a response.
Hill said that Beightol is one of three students currently under consideration for the position, but she is also considering students outside of the office.
Keeping the appointment within the financial supports office would be beneficial, Beightol said, because someone from the office would not have to be familiarized with procedures.
Hill said she recognizes that, given time constraints, bringing in someone new would present an issue.
She said the new commissioner would most likely just serve as a signatory on projects that are already being implemented.
Hill said she hopes to fill the vacancy in fewer than three weeks, before new officers are sworn in for next term