SES exec board undergoes change
Lizz Matyas
Issue date: 11/20/09 Section: News
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Student Entertainment Services is a campus organization that is responsible for bringing acts such as comedians, bands and magicians to Potsdam's campus. SES currently has the largest budget of any student organizations with over 90 thousand dollars. Like other campus organizations, the SES budget comes from a chunk of the mandatory student activity fee that is tacked on to tuition.
After discussing a number of grievances against Smith, the Hurley's Committee moved to vote for the removal of Smith from his position as committee chair. The motion was passed with a two-thirds majority vote, with five of the eight members of the committee voting for Smith's removal.
At first it seemed like a normal organizational politics procedure for an organization to remove a member of its committee through voting.
The situation had one catch- Smith was neither present during the time the vote took place, nor was he aware such a vote was going to take place.
Smith was taken by surprise after receiving a phone call from Jonathan Collier, SES President, who broke the news to Smith.
Information from SES' minutes indicates the grievances the group had against Smith. The group claims that among "abandoning his duties," Smith has also been seen as incapable of performing his duties due to his stress over senior status.
Smith was shocked by the minutes he received from the events of the SES meeting: "I was shocked to find all of the instances [in the minutes] were gross exaggerations or complete fallacies."
The decision for the vote even surprised Collier: "They [the committee] had said it would take place, but we weren't expecting them to do it."
Collier, along with other members of the SES e-board and advisor Maureen Taylor, attended the National Association for Campus Activities conference over the weekend.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 36
Hoppy
posted 11/19/09 @ 10:55 PM EST
It sounds to me like the policies and loopholes in SES need to be revised, and those on the board should question their practices and the motives of those who launched this campaign against Smith. (Continued…)
Former SESer
posted 11/20/09 @ 11:42 AM EST
Smith had done a large amount of work contributing to the record attendance in Hurley's recently. All of the talk of more diverse acts is a complete contradiction to goal of Hurley's and SES. (Continued…)
Potsdam student
posted 11/20/09 @ 11:50 AM EST
A friend of mine is in the SES at Potsdam, and they had planned on bringing this up that week without the knowledge that Smith would not at the meeting. (Continued…)
Potsdam Grad
Phil Thompson
posted 11/20/09 @ 12:42 PM EST
Is this a news article or a feel sorry for Ben article? There are many facts missing from this story that might shed some light on the history of Ben's involvement in the organization, and the reasons for his removal. (Continued…)
SES Member
posted 11/20/09 @ 12:44 PM EST
I don't think it should be said that "The future for Hurley's is uncertain at this point..." especially given how it was only a chairperson replacement. (Continued…)
A Student
posted 11/20/09 @ 1:37 PM EST
I think the removal of Ben as chair of Hurley's was a mistake. The reasons for his dismissal simply don't add up. "After the bill for Smith's proposed acts were denied twice, it was noted that Smith would not be present at the following weekend's SES events. (Continued…)
Another SES Member
posted 11/20/09 @ 2:48 PM EST
First, I would like to point out that the exec board of SES hasn't changed. The President, Vice President, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, and Secretary have remained the same since the removal of Ben O'Brien Smith. (Continued…)
Hurley's Girl
posted 11/20/09 @ 3:20 PM EST
This topic sparked alot of feelings all over campus, but people were not aware of all of the things that have happened/were happening. As a member of the committee, I can say that what we did was thought out and carried out for the good of this campus. (Continued…)
Alice Sorensen
posted 11/20/09 @ 4:16 PM EST
SES has really done it this time. Not only have they managed to insult and alienate one of their most devoted and hardworking members, but they've also started down the path of the gross exaggeration of fact. (Continued…)
Another Potsdam Student
posted 11/20/09 @ 6:13 PM EST
I am nothing short of ecstatic about this change. Maybe now Hurley's will better advertise Coffeehouse and book some decent weekend acts.
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