What began as a routine round of announcements by members of the Michigan Student Assembly last night ended in a decision to investigate actions taken by assembly Vice President Probir Mehta.
Members voted 13-12-1 to reverse last week's decision and form a committee to investigate a $500 allocation signed by Mehta without MSA approval in September.
Mehta contends that he allocated the funds to the United Asian American Organization without the assembly's endorsement because it was impossible for MSA to reach quorum with so many members gone for the summer.
"We're basically taking a giant step backward," Mehta said, adding that he has already acted responsibly by acknowledging the mistake. "I still stand by my intentions."
Engineering Rep. David Burden made a motion to suspend the rules so that members would have to vote by roll call - instead of by the secret-ballot format used last week.
Burden said he had not planned to make the motion before the meeting, but students' negative reactions to the incident influenced his decision.
"It appeared we were going to leave it how it was," Burden said, adding that he thought last week's vote was partisan.
Burden, who abstained last week, voted last night in favor of forming the investigative committee.
Before the vote, MSA member Amer Zahr addressed the assembly, condemning the assembly's use of a secret ballot last week.
Zahr said students have a right to know how MSA representatives voted so they can "decide who they want to be on the assembly instead of having to guess."
"I was speaking about the secret ballot," Zahr said. "The vote was made, so there was no reason to change. I didn't think (the vote) was going to change."
Schor said the decision to re-vote shows that the assembly holds itself accountable to students.
"We responded to wishes of our constituents," Schor said. "Today, MSA did the right thing - we righted a wrong."
While some assembly members said the formation of the committee is not personally or politically motivated, other MSA members disagreed.
"This is a personal and political vendetta," Mehta said. "This is a heart-breaking development."
MSA President Fiona Rose said she is upset the assembly changed its mind.
"Where is the sense of respect on this assembly?" Rose asked. "I see none."
"It comes up every election cycle," Rose said.
The investigative committee, composed of five randomly selected assembly members, excluding Mehta, has until Feb. 25 to complete its report.
"We're going to meet, go over the facts, and make a recommendation to the assembly," said Engineering Rep. Mark Dub, chair of the investigative committee. "This recommendation can range from aquittal, to censure, to recall from the Michigan Student Assembly and anything in between."
Rose said the (investigative) committee will come up "empty-handed."
"I would have done the same thing," Fiona said about Mehta's actions, adding that leaders like Mehta are few and far between. "It just so happened it's (Probir's) signature on the line."
Dub said personal feelings will not play a role in the investigative committee's decisions.
"Personal and partisan politics will have absolutely no place on this committee," Dub said.