West Campus President Voted Out

Collin Dever

cdever@valenciavoice.com

At the last general assembly meeting of the West campus Student Government Association two items were added to the New Business section of the agenda. The first issue 7.3, the acceptance of the Jurisprudence Committee and 7.4, a petition hearing.

The petition was for a removal of office. When the petition was finally read, it was revealed that the petition was for the removal of Juliana Montoya, the President of the Student Government Association.

Montoya’s eyes were unflinching, staring at nothing, during Wednesday’s meeting as the grievances against the president were read. The petition included the testimony of five members of the student government and was signed by seven out of nine Executive Board members.

The charges against the president included not logging office hours, being late to events, being absent from meetings, and failing to meet deadlines. The serious allegations presented were using her authority as president to have members of the SGA carry out personal tasks for Montoya, and discussing a confidential meeting with a member of the student body.

The vote was ten for her removal, one against, and one abstained. With that, the petition was approved. Montoya stood to address her administration, “I feel like I just got back stabbed by my own team,” said Montoya. Her final words: “This is life and I take it.”

According to the West Campus SGA constitution, once a petition has been voted on, the SGA member has five business days to submit a letter of appeal if they feel they have been wrongfully accused. Montoya submitted an appeal letter to the jurisprudence council on Friday, Oct. 22.

The opening line of her letter read: “I, Maria Juliana Montoya, current President of the Student Government Association West campus in the process of possible removal, request an appeal to the Jurisprudence Committee… ”

“Based on our constitution the President was not performing duties and abusing her power,” said Tiffany Janiczek Press Secretary of SGA. As an Executive Board member, her signature was one of seven on the petition.

Janiczek felt that based on the number of offenses, their actions were in no way an overreaction. “If it was one issue, then I say yes, let’s give her probation, but it was multiple issues with multiple people.”

Montoya was absent from the Eboard meeting the Monday before the General meeting. Stating that she had forgotten essential materials for a presentation that day, and would miss the meeting due to having to turn around.

Running behind Montoya, her professor called to inform them that she would be late for the class. The professor told her that in order to present that day, someone would have to sign her up in class.

Montoya then called members of the SGA in hope of finding someone to sign her up. One member she called was Tyler-Marie Walker Executive Secretary. Montoya tried to reach Walker on both her personal cell phone and her desk phone in the SGA office.

The petitioners argue that due to the nature of the working relationship that her request was not personal. It represented a request from an authoritative position to execute a task outside of the realm of their position.

“All my friends are in SGA,” said Montoya. Due to the time commitment level of some student organization, very little time is left for anything else.

Montoya told Walker she was “the only one I know on campus right now.”

The other serious allegation was the discussion of confidential material. The material in question, now made public was information regarding the removal of the former Vice President Patrick O’Connor.

The vice president was asked for his resignation due Oct. 15. The conversation in question occurred on Oct. 14 before the due date of the resignation. The testimony of Hang Le Nguyen states that “during the voting out of Mr. Patrick O’Connor, she wanted to offer him one week probation and nobody agreed to it.”

Montoya does not deny the discussion of O’Connor’s removal, or that the conversation occurred, “[the student] already knew, so there was nothing confidential about it,” said Montoya. “And it didn’t come from me.”

According to Florida freedom of information legislation however, all Student Government Association Meetings are matter of public record. The issue of confidentially is inconsequential because the SGA is not permitted to have confidential meetings.

Montoya feels the petition was a detrimental blow to the SGA. It jeopardized the future of the Student Government Association. Recounting the day of the general assembly meeting “in that moment it was about the Student Government’s future,” said Montoya. “Everything I’m doing this year is for the students.”

The president also questioned the legitimacy of the accusation; asking the question, “Have my officers read the constitution?”

The constitution was last amended in 2005 under the Student Government President Rudy Darden. Darden now teaching at Valencia in the communications department and assisting students in the writing center, he spent much of his presidential term working on revisions to the constitution.

Darden stated that within the petition “is more than enough to have an SGA president removed from office.” Also, affirming that the procedures of the removal process were in accordance with the constitution.

Last year, the SGA President Robert Stio spent time working on re-tailoring the constitution. Montoya worked within Stio’s administration as his Executive Secretary.

“It sounds like Juliana was overriding her presidency, for her to be a student, and merely called a friend,” said Stio. He emphasized that with all organizations, “your a student first.”

Stio raised an issue with the constitutionality of the petition process. “It’s a two step process, that’s the part that is outlined.” The petition was assembled and ruled valid by the Eboard and delivered at the next general meeting. “Decisions aren’t made until the next meeting.”

Before the petition was read, item 7.3, the acceptance of the Jurisprudence Committee, was discussed. The SGA Parliamentarian Jonathan Lamones, presented a list of members of the newly formed Jurisprudence Committee.

After some discussion, Montoya cited the constitution Art. five Sec. IV item D number four sub d stating that the selection of the jurisprudence committee shall be made by presidential appointment.

Montoya accepted the list of applicants to be reviewed and then appointed by her office. When the meeting ended after the petition was heard there was no committee to appeal to, no one was approved for the positions.

Since then, a Jurisprudence committee has been assembled and approved by the Student Development Coordinator, Victor Collazo. The committee has not set a meeting time to hear Montoya’s case for her defense.

It is the job of the Student Government Adviser to present the petition to the Jurisprudence committee and the accused presents their argument to refute the petition and can bring forth witnesses to speak on her behalf. The Jurisprudence Committee, headed by the parliamentarian, can request any information from the adviser for their ruling.

It is the job of the jurisprudence committee to rule on whether the charges are valid grounds for removal. Once thy have convened a hearing, they have two business days to return with a ruling. In the event of a tie – the parliamentarian holds the deciding vote.

Hip Hop for Haiti hits campus

By Collin Dever

cdever@valenciavoice.com

This year the Valencia film program decided to use their yearly film festival to help those victims of the recent earthquake that struck Haiti. Organized by Ralph Clemente, program chair for film production technology, Hip Hop for Haiti took place Friday and Saturday night on the East campus with all the proceeds from Saturday going to Yele Haiti, an organization started by hip hop star Wyclef Jean.

The film festival premiered eight shorts created in the film class by the students, as well as two feature films that the students had the opportunity to work on, ‘H2O Extreme’ and ‘Just Another Day,’ a film directed by Peter Spirer about an up and coming hip hop artist.

Donald Phillips was a second second assistant director on ‘Just Another Day.’ The second second is the right hand man to the assistant director. Their job is to make sure the production runs smoothly by organizing the scenes and talent. With a cast full of hip hop artists things didn’t go as planned, on the set.

“We were filming in h2o church for the club scene the assistant directors laptops got stolen,” said Phillips. “I went out to find Trick Daddy and I couldn’t find him. Five minutes later he came back, both laptops in his hand.” Depending on who you asked there are two stories on how the laptops got recovered. One that the laptops were stored under some equipment to take later. The other is Trick Daddy got a gun out of his trunk and started getting quick answers.

One thing that makes the Valencia Film program so unique is this ability to work on movie sets creating features destined for the silver

screen, and it is that hands on experience that sets Valencia apart. “The Valencia Film program is amazing “ said Lev Mergian. “I got my bachelors from UCF and then came to Valencia afterwards because the film program here, I thought, was way better.” Mergian also worked on ‘Just Another Day’ as well as writing and directing two of the film shorts. “Valencia is hands on. Your working with a crew [...] where as other schools are just teaching you theory.”

“In the beginning I felt it was very important that these student have an opportunity to work on real film,” said Clemente. “Film is team art everyone works together.” Clemente has been the head of the film program for the past 22 years and before that was a film professor at University of Miami. He built up Hollywood contacts like Peter Spirer in the classroom as their teacher. Clemente is also a member of the Director’s Guild of America. An craft union representing directors, assistant directors, and stage managers.

Saturday nights show raised approximately $1,400 to donate to Yele Haiti along with two truckloads of clothing, food, and essential supplies for the survivors. The entire film program uniformly agreed that they should use their event as an opportunity to help our global neighbors. Clemente said, “When you visit the planet it comes with a price, and part of it is to look out for your brothers and sisters.”

Faith Base

By Collin Dever

ORLANDO, Fla.--In the recent years, Hollywood has begun catering to Christian audiences based on the success of such blockbuster hits as "Passion of the Christ" which made 610 million dollars. Creating a new market for faith based movies.

David Nixon an Orlando based filmmaker is one such person Hollywood turned to, to create faith based films and his movie "Letters to God" will be in theaters this spring.

"We wanted to create something that would give people hope." Said Nixon. "The movie is just a catalyst to get people to dialogue."

The movie, which is based on a true story, centers around a young boy afflicted with cancer who begins writing letters to God in order to help those people around him who are struggling.

Nixon's movies are far from the Hollywood standard. "We started everyday in prayer," said Nixon. Always present on the set during the movie were prayer warriors whose job was to pray from the moment the director said action until he said cut.

When it came to marketing "We used Mel Gibson's model." said Nixon "He took the movie to the church and gave it away." Because the movie deals with faith and cancer Nixon has implemented marketing strategies to reach out to those audiences.

To reach the cancer market the production team is marketing to the top 30 cancer organizations. Nixon has offered all of the organizations a free screening of the movie as a fundraiser, and in return having them spread to the word to the millions of people on their email lists.

Nixon built a name for himself doing faith based films when he volunteered with a church in Georgia to help make the movie "Facing the Giants" and "Fireproof" as a assistant director and co-producer.

Nixon is already beginning work on his next movie which he hopes to shoot over the summer. When Nixon raised the funds for "Letters to God" he raised ten million dollars enough to make three movies, and he has pledge to help the church from Georgia whenever they are ready to make another movie.

"Letters to God" will open in theaters April 9 the weekend after Easter Sunday.

Tragic action calls for bold leadership

By Collin Dever

ORLANDO, Fla.--After dissatisfied worker Jason Rodriguez shot six of his co-workers downtown, the city was shutdown, and Mayor Buddy Dyer was on the scene, at 1000 Legion Place, to address the media on Nov 6.

"It was about lunch time and all the sudden there were Orlando Police Department cars screaming by, and the chief called me to let me know that we had the event going on," said Dyer as a helicopter circled above.

Rodriguez was taken into custody at 2:13 p.m. and was being questioned at the OPD Headquarters downtown on the charge of first degree murder.

"I don't know that anybody had any indication that this individual to take this type of action," said Dyer.

Dyer expressed praise for the work of all the departments that helped to bring the manhunt to an end quickly and without incident.

"In terms of response I couldn't be more proud of the OPD, the Orlando Fire Department the supporting law enforcement agencies," said Dyer. "Got to give them an 'A plus' in terms of the operations of OPD and OFD."

Rodriguez remains in police custody awaiting trial.

Meditate on This

By Collin Dever

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Outside, the buzz of the city drones on and on, but inside the Infinity Wellness Center a group of strangers sit chanting and focusing on settling their mind. Konchog Shenphen, a Tibetan Buddhist, led a meditation and teaching on Monday.

Taking the attendees through sets of Buddhist prayers, in English, Shenphen touched on the founding principles on Buddhism such as Karma, Nirvana, and the Bodhisattva, which was followed by a meditation session.

Different from the main western religions, Shenphen encourages all people to find their own path. "Don't listen to me," said Shenphen. "Look inside yourself; if it makes sense okay. If it doesn't, you'll find something."

Sitting on a pillow on the floor, dressed in a suit with his phone clipped to his side, John Vega calmly recited the mantra of Chenrezi. "I believe that meditation is like the health food of the soul," said Vega.

Shenphen has been a monk for the past six years learning the ways of the Buddha. "My mom got me started," stated Shenphen. "She took me to the temple. I didn't leave the temple, and became a monk."

Originally ordaining in the Theravada tradition, mainly practiced in Thailand, Shenphen switched to the Tibetan practice.

Jairo Moreno, a friend of Shenphen, rose slowly when the meditation had finished, and went out to the hall to collect his shoes. Moreno said he felt, "more alert, more energetic, and just happy to be alive."

It is unclear how long the sense of euphoria lasts once the practitioners step back out into the bustling metropolis, but anytime they need to settle their minds they must only think back on Shenphen's words and utter the mantra "Om Mani Peme Hung."

Music For the Little Ones

By Collin Dever

Jessica Velazquez and her year-old daughter along with dozens of other parents and children filled the children's corner of the Barnes and Nobles at the Waterford Lakes Town Center, for a story time event today.

They came to hear Richard Peeples, who goes by the stage name Mr. Richard, a children's entertainer who started his career as a storyteller working with the Orange County Florida Library for five years.

"I steer away from the educational type themes because I think they learn anyway... I just strictly do silly stuff." said Peeples.

With songs about monkeys in purple socks, dog kisses, and a snake named Sammy, the story time was all about having a fun time for the kids and parents.

"We have been watching Mr. Richard for over four years, and we like that you can participate in the songs, clap, dance, sing along with him, it's good music." Said Carrie Reed.

For Velazquez it's all about watching her daughter "just seeing her dance and her face light when she would hear the music," and parents appreciate getting to spend time with their children during Peeples' Shows.

Peeples has been doing his own shows for five years. He has released three albums of children songs, and performs hundreds of shows a year.

The story time also provides a great socializing opportunity for the kids to meet new playmates and friends, and for the parents to meet other parents as well.

For Peeples he's confident that his music will never go out of style, because there's new children coming to his shows all the time.

"I stumbled onto a good niche here because the audience renews itself." Said Peeples.

As the children get older and move away from the music more children develop an appreciation.

"I could do the same set for twenty years and never change the songs."