The impeachment of College Republican President Nick Kirk last week has left many members of the group still fuming, even as the chapter moves to choose a new leader tomorrow.
The executive board, comprised of the group's four elected officers, voted 3-1 to impeach Kirk last Wednesday.
"I'm annoyed they didn't consult with us," said Adam Silver, who is running for vice president of the group in its March 19 election. "The general members would not impeach him."
Silver, who is an LSA first-year student, said Kirk was responsible for getting new members active in the club.
"Nick really got us involved," Silver said.
Pete Rinato, the only officer to vote against impeachment, said many of the first-year students who worked hard during the fall political campaign were upset by Kirk's removal.
"There's been a lot of discontent among the freshmen," said Rinato, the group's vice president for alumni affairs. "They look up to Nick a lot."
While Kirk has been involved in controversies that include allegedly forging a press pass to gain access to the state Republican convention, the officers who impeached him said there are many internal reasons for his removal.
Becky Beamish, the group's secretary, said that on numerous occasions, Kirk usurped power from other officers.
"It got to the point where we had to take a stance and say, 'No, you've crossed the line,'" Beamish said.
Beamish said some of the incidents included Kirk delegating officers' responsibilities of officers to himself and other group members. She also said that when members and officers would attempt to speak with Kirk, he would just get angry.
Elias Xenos, the group's vice president and interim president, asked Kirk to resign last Wednesday and subsequently called for his impeachment. Also on Wednesday, Xenos withdrew his bid for presidency in the March 19 elections.
Kirk said the impeachment took him by surprise.
"It was just a shock," Kirk said. "I had no idea this was coming."
Kirk said he still plans to "be active and involved" with the group, but he will not comment on whether he will attempt to regain his former office tomorrow night.
David Taub, an LSA first-year student and member of the group, said Kirk had popular support among general membership.
"If it was up to us to vote, Nick would remain president," Taub said.
Although many in the group have differing opinions about the impeachment, some said it will not damage group unity.
"There is no division in the group," Kirk said. "You just have a small minority of the members backing Elias."
The debate has extended outside of the group.
Andy Schor, a Michigan Student Assembly representative and press secretary for the Michigan Young Democrats, said he supported Xenos in his movement to impeach Kirk.
"I know Elias, and he is a good, strong leader," Schor said. "(Kirk) has, from what I've heard secondhand, run that group with a steel fist."
The election for a new College Republican president will occur tomorrow, and elections for all of next year's officers will take place March 19.
Mark Potts is running for president uncontested.