Two days after announcing his resignation as Student Union president, Michael Moffo discussed last night the emotional decision-making process prior to his announcement and his confidence in the continuing leadership of his colleagues.
“Between when I was first informed on Thursday and when I announced on Monday, there was a host of emotions and thoughts that went through my head,” said Moffo, a senior in the College of Communication. “What came out of my weekend of contemplation is that my priority is the Union.”
Moffo said he discussed his decision over the weekend with only his closest friends and family before announcing it to the Executive Board on Monday night.
Moffo said his emotions toward leaving the Union mid-year were summed up in the letter he read to the E-board in the meeting and sent to Student Activities Office Director Carolyn Norris, Assistant Dean of Students Allen Ward and The Daily Free Press Monday night.
Moffo said the reaction to his resignation has been one of understanding,, though he said he thinks many people don’t know how to respond.
“I got a lot of long faces and shocked expressions,” he said. “I don’t think people really know how to respond, and I didn’t ask people to respond to it. I had been adjusting to it and thinking about it nonstop for four days, and I don’t think people were really set to receive that news.”
Moffo praised new Union President Zachary Coseglia, a COM senior, for his quick reaction despite being told only a few hours before Moffo told the rest of the Executive Board.
“I have to hand it to Zach for really taking on this challenge — he’s going to do a fantastic job,” he said.
“It’s really a testament to the structure of the Union. People are ready to go and happy to be involved,” Moffo said. “I still look forward to a great semester, no matter what role I’ll be in.”
Other E-board members said they were saddened by Moffo’s resignation in interviews early Tuesday morning.
“It’s unfortunate; Mike’s my friend,” said Union Vice President of Academic Affairs Francis Cosico, a junior in the College of Communication. “He is an exceptional leader and he brought a lot of energy and ideas to the E-board and Union. He spearheaded the formation of the [Real] slate and has a lot of passion for the Union.”
“His actions and decision not to appeal shows that he still believes in the organization and what student government can do,” Cosico said. “He trusts us to continue that.”
Moffo, who was placed on academic probation, said Norris contacted him about a week before their meeting last Thursday.
“She simply said we needed to meet my academic situation personally,” Moffo said. “I went to the office and set up a meeting with her and didn’t think much of it.”
Moffo said the meeting lasted around 15 minutes and didn’t involve much dialogue.
“She laid it out pretty bluntly in our meeting, so there wasn’t much discussion,” he said. “There was a little discussion about what my options were, but I left the meeting knowing that Carolyn Norris was not willing to negotiate and that any appeal would have to go above the SAO.”
Norris said the decision was not directed through her office and that the academic probation came through COM. Students who drop below a 2.3 grade point average in COM during any semester are put on academic probation, according to the COM website.
“It’s a standing BU policy,” Norris said. “When students run for Student Union, they have to sign that they will be in good academic standing during their service.”
Moffo had received his notice of probation from COM in the mail but said he did not think much of it because his Fall semester grades would not have affected his graduation. He also said the notice did not include anything about ineligibility for student office.
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