Moffo Resigns As Union President

Michael Moffo, the president of the Boston University Student Union, resigned last night after being placed on academic probation, according to an email sent to The Daily Free Press last night. Executive Vice President Zachary Coseglia will take over as Union president, in accordance with constitutional mandate.

VP of Financial Affairs Caroline Preis will take Coseglia’s position as executive vice president, according to Laurie Steinberg, the VP of public relations. Sophomore Carl Woog, a University Professors senator, is scheduled to be appointed as VP of financial affairs at Monday’s meeting, pending Senate ratification.

Moffo told the Union Executive Board of his resignation at the end of its weekly meeting last night. He then notified Carolyn Norris, Assistant Dean of Students Allen Ward and the Free Press in an email at approximately 9:30 p.m.

Norris, director of the Student Activities Office, notified Moffo on Thursday that he would have to resign as a result of being placed on academic probation, Coseglia said.

According to the Student Union Constitution, “All members of the Executive Board and the President must maintain University recognized standards of good financial, academic and disciplinary standing during their terms in office.” By being placed on academic probation, Moffo is ineligible to hold office in the Union.

Moffo chose not to protest the decision removing him from office, Coseglia said.

“He thought about it for four days, and I think his decision was a wise decision. All [of our initiatives and events] would be overshadowed if we were caught up in a protest,” Coseglia said. “I think that’s why he made the decision not to protest it. He didn’t want to be in that situation, and it takes quite a leader to just do that. It takes a lot.”

Moffo spoke with Coseglia yesterday afternoon and told Coseglia he would be resigning, the new president said.

Coseglia will assume the position, according to the Student Union Constitution, which reads, “The Executive Vice President will assume the duties of the President in the event of the Presidents [sic] absence, and in the event of a vacancy in the office of President.”

Senate Chairwoman Kirsten Lundeen, a College of Arts and Sciences junior, said the Senate will be officially notified at next Monday’s scheduled Union meeting.

“My guess is they’ll probably find out about 11 [a.m] when The Daily Free Press comes out,” she said. “They’re going to know when the Senate meets next Monday.”

Lundeen said although the agenda for the meeting has not yet been finalized, Coseglia will most likely make an official statement to the Union. Moffo has not said if he will speak at the meeting, according to Lundeen.

“It’s something that needs to be addressed — Zach will speak on behalf of Mike,” Lundeen said.

VP of Academic Affairs Frances Cosico said while Moffo’s resignation is unfortunate, academic regulations are important and should be standard to University policy.

“At any university or school, there are guidelines,” said Cosico, a COM sophomore. “You’re here to learn; academics come first before anything else. If the administration sees that you are not up to par academically, that means you have to put more energy into schoolwork.

“If they decide that, I think that’s reasonable. It’s something that’s really standard, and I don’t think it’s very controversial.”

Cosico and Lundeen both said Moffo’s academic trouble shows his commitment to the Union.

“A lot of the reason I think he was placed on probation was because he was spending so much time on Union stuff,” Cosico said. “He wasn’t just slacking off.”

Coseglia said this wasn’t a decision Moffo was pondering over break; he had less than a week to decide what to do.

“He found out about the situation Thursday, and I think he wanted to give it a lot of thought,” Coseglia said in a phone interview early this morning. “He told me that he was resigning, and I didn’t really believe him.”

Other E-board members echoed the same feelings early this morning.

“I was shocked and amazed,” Lundeen said. “We just stood there, soaking it in and not believing it was real.”

In his letter, Moffo said he was forced to resign, and it wasn’t a decision he chose to make.

“I mean to make it abundantly clear that this is not a decision made of my own free will,” Moffo wrote. “My resignation has been forced upon me by the administration of Boston University.”

Steinberg said she hoped the resignation wouldn’t reflect poorly on the Union, as resignations have in previous years.

“This resignation wasn’t due to any one member of the Union’s lack of faith, and it shows tremendous faith on the part of Mike Moffo to not protest it,” Steinberg said. “Protesting it would take away the attention from what our focus is; instead he’s just going to accept the decision and step down so [we] can move on and do what [we] have to do.”

Coseglia said he hoped people wouldn’t draw parallels to last year’s Union, from which several Executive Board members resigned.

“I think it’s completely different, as Mike articulated in his letter,” Coseglia said. “When people who resigned last year wrote letters, they were sometimes very antagonistical toward the Union. I think he’s very disappointed that he had to leave.”

Cosico said the decision was “made because of University guidelines, not because of discontent with the Union,” as many cited last year.

“The situation can’t be compared to last year,” Cosico said.

Coseglia said while Moffo’s resignation was surprising, this Union will be well prepared to move on with the business of the students.

“Fortunately, I think we’ve built such a strong base never being built about one person,” Coseglia said. “I think while it’s not the best thing for the Union and the student body, that base is strong enough that we are prepared.

“It’s just a bump in the road — we have a new president, EVP and VP of financial affairs,” Coseglia said. “It’s not the best situation, but we’re prepared to move on. As much as it bothers us as people, we have to just keep going and doing our jobs.”