Suspicions of an unfair endorsement and a conflict of interest surrounded the BTV Channel 6 debate between the vice president of multicultural affairs candidates last week, leading one candidate to walk out.
The event was moderated by current VPMA Maryam Belly.
VPMA candidate Yadin Herzel made his campaign speech, then angrily left last Thursday’s debate after saying Belly was openly displaying a bias against him.
Herzel placed a grievance against Belly for openly endorsing his opponent, candidate Ricky Da Costa, during both the sweeps and the BTV debate. This grievance was later withdrawn.
“During sweeps Maryam, in one community, was telling students what to ask to make me seemed uninformed,” Herzel said. “She had these students follow me to each community, asking me questions during the sweeps.”
According to Herzel, he was also informed that Belly had been discussing the debate questions with Da Costa ahead of time.
“I decided it would not be a fair debate if Ricky had seen the questions ahead of time, so I decided to leave,” Herzel said.
The grievance filed against Belly claimed she used her office to promote a candidate, which is against the Student Association bylaws.
“Maryam approached me afterwards and told me that I should not have done that to someone of her integrity,” Herzel said. “She went on a rant in the Union, saying she can’t wait for Ricky to be VPMA, and that he would be a better VPMA than I’d ever be.”
According to Belly, her endorsement was made public, and it was no different from how any other executive board members acted during the campaigns.
“Yadin basically made allegations about my position and about how I’ve been working behind the scenes to endorse candidates,” Belly said. “All e-board members have announced their endorsements; it is not out of the norm. I guess it’s a stigma of the VPMA that whatever you do is wrong.”
Belly denied Herzel’s accusation that she sent students to follow him during sweeps in an attempt to make him look uninformed.
“For a fact, that is not true,” she said. “I have no reason to go around and send people to ask him questions.”
“I think what happened is that people were asking him questions and he was not able to answer, and instead of owning up to his own ignorance, he placed all blame on me,” she added.
Belly said that Herzel walked out of the debate, creating a public stunt in an attempt to save his campaign.