SA Under Investigation
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THE est, 1956 December 5, 2011 THE STUDENT-RUN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER POST Issue 12, Volume $6 Vice President Brent Johnson's Resignation Letter page 13 Time for SA to clean house page 20 S A vice president arrested; accused of sexual assault SA launches Vice President Brent Johnson accused of sexual assault by former SA member investigation of By Steve Garrison, News Editor, and to pursue charges, the Division of president Zach Brooke, Editorial Editor Student Affairs, Office of Student [email protected] Life and Office of Equity and Diversity have initiated investigations Vice President of the Student in relation to the allegations. Vice president resigns Association Brent Johnson resigned "...It was my feeling that there Sunday night after being accused was a need for intervention in order during meeting last Friday by a former Student to make sure that people were not Association senator of sexual assault being victimized," Vice Chancellor By Aaron Knapp and harassment. of Student Affairs Michael Laliberte Assistant News Editor Johnson was arrested in relation said. [email protected] to the police investigation Saturday In the letter in which he tendered afternoon after arriving late at the his resignation, Johnson wrote: In closed session Sunday night, district courthouse where he was to "The value and urgency of the Student Association senate voted be questioned. the initiatives that the Student to launch an internal investigation Johnson was released after the Association is currently undertaking of SA President Alex Kostal and district attorney's office made the demand personal sacrifice. I maintain Director of University Affairs David decision not to pursue charges against allegiance to the best interest of my Sidhu for potential office misconduct Johnson, citing a lack of evidence. fellow students. This, even at risk and placed them both on unpaid The alleged victim has also of misinterpretation of my motives, administrative leave. filed a temporary restraining order leads me to the conclusion that my During the five-hour meeting, the against Johnson, with a hearing date resignation will help return some longest so far this year, Brent Johnson scheduled for Dec. 8. semblance of normalcy to the student resigned from his position as SA vice The alleged victim, who asked body." president after he was suspended by to be referred to by her first name, the university over an alleged sexual Tiffany, because of the sensitive Alleged sexual assault on Sept. assault and other alleged misbehavior nature of the crime, and her former 25th in the office. boyfriend, SA treasurer Michael According to a police incident Although most of the meeting was Schultz, gave conflicting accounts to report obtained with the victim's spent discussing other matters, such police about what happened the night consent, Tiffany told police that the Johnson was arrested on Nov 27th for failing as Senate Finance Committee and of Johnson's 21st birthday when the alleged sexual assault took place at to show up for questioning at appointed time. Senate Appropriations Committee alleged sexual assault took place. her house on the night of Johnson's grants, the main event was how Statements provided to the UWM 21st birthday, Sept. 24-25. Tiffany referred to her as "Joan," the office obviously, I never got it," Tiffany the senate would respond to the Post by both SA members, as well and Schultz had planned a Mad manager for the fictional advertising said. allegations against Johnson and an as statements given by Johnson, also Men-themed birthday party, which agency featured in the show. According to Tiffany's statement investigation of office conduct by show disparities in the accounts over included cigars, martinis, wine and "He actually bought me a poster to police, the group watched episodes the university, with over 30 audience what took place while Tiffany was a chocolate tarts. of Joan and season one of Mad Men, members and local broadcast news member of SA. Tiffany told the UWM Post that but he wasn't going to give it to me See JOHNSON page 2 teams present. Although the DA has decided not Johnson loved Mad Men and often until he got done watching it all, so, "Obviously, these are turbulent times for the SA," Speaker of the Senate Rick Banks said at the beginning of the meeting. "Things are happening very quickly. After today, our next meeting will be SA under investigation January 29 as currently scheduled, [but] I foresee the need to have more meetings." Despite being placed by SA on Allegations of hazing, drinking and sexual harassment administrative leave without pay on Monday and being suspended by By John Parnon SA Senator Matt Rosner said he idea how that was stolen either. own investigation and wanted to keep the university on Thursday, Johnson Assistant News Editor felt like he had been part of a hazing SA has also launched an internal the two separate. officially retained his position as [email protected] incident where Johnson had tricked investigation through the Senate Police served a temporary of Sunday night until he officially him into drinking Everclear. Oversight and Rules Committee, restraining order to SA President emailed a letter of resignation. UW-Milwaukee is conducting "Brent says, 'Here, here is a whose responsibilities include Alex Kostal at Speaker of the Senate In the letter, Johnson maintained three investigations into the actions of shot of vodka,' ... so I just did this conducting investigations into Rick Bank's request. Johnson was also that he was innocent of the sexual members of the Student Association, [motioning throwing back a shot] misconduct by SA officials, and mentioned in the restraining order assault charge, but said his leaving including allegations of sexual then what happened was my throat distributed about 50 surveys to but was not present at the meeting, the SA was the best way for SA to go misconduct, alcohol in the office and was like... on fire," Rosner said. "I members to gauge the climate of the because the chancellor had suspended back to business. a hostile workplace environment. started throwing up violently. It was SA. Johnson from school on Dec. 1. "I maintain allegiance to the The university investigations were probably one of the worst experiences "We're keeping it broad in our Johnson had sent in his resignation best interest of my fellow students," launched on Nov. 28, the day after I ever had in my entire life." investigation and then having people to Kostal 10 minutes before the senate Johnson said in the letter. "This, even SA Vice President Brent Johnson Tiffany also alleged that SA come forward if they have any meeting began. at risk of misinterpretation of my was arrested in relation to charges of President Alex Kostal had stolen two specific misconduct, but we are also The restraining order, signed by motives, leads me to the conclusion sexual assault. stuffed weasels while at a Center for investigating sexual misconduct, Chief Justice of the Student Court that my resignation will help return The alleged victim in the Johnson Volunteerism and Student Leadership assault and harassment," SORC Anthony DeWees on Dec. 4, prevents some semblance of normalcy to the case, Tiffany, who asked to be Conference at Camp Minikani in Chair Tereza Pelicaric said. Kostal from interfering with SORC student body." referred to only by first name, has Hubertus, Wl. Vice Chancellor of Student investigations, retaliating against Kostal will continue acting as made allegations to the university Kostal said he had nothing to Affairs Michael Laliberte is in any SA member or entering any space president, communicating orders that SA is an environment that fosters do with the theft of the weasels but charge of one of the university's owned or reserved by SA. through Chief of Staff Angela sexual harassment and that members confirmed that a Muppet doll was also investigations. Laliberte said he was As of Sunday night, Kostal will Lang, but Johnson's position will use intimidation to prevent anyone stolen on the trip, which is currently aware of the SORC investigations, from speaking up. sitting in the SA office, and he has no but the university was conducting its See INVESTIGATION page 16 See SA page 1 uwmpost.com | INDEX NEWS .1-4 FRINGE .7-12 COMICS 22 SPORTS .5-6 EDITORIAL 20-21 PUZZLES 23 AVERY SA ISSUE 2 December $, 2011 NEWS THE UWM POST THE POST Editor in Chief Production Editor Zach Erdmann Melissa Dahlman Managing Editor Chief Copy Editor Mike La Count Jackie Dreyer News Editor Copy Editors Steve Garrison Kara Petersen Brad Poling Assistant News Editors Distribution Mgr. 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