Two Free Press staff members filed formal complaints against commuter Sen. Benjamin Hoffman last Thursday.
The complaints allege a “pattern of conduct unbecoming a member of [this] esteemed organization,” as indicated on a cover letter submitted to the Senate and administrative members by Executive Editor Steve Peoples on behalf of the aggrieved Free Press staff members.
Specifically, the letter cites violation of article one and article five of the Senate’s official Code of Conduct. The complaints were submitted to the Violation Inquiry Committee (VIC), a standing committee formed at the beginning of the school year which meets only when there is a question of violation of the Senate constitution.
“After discussing the matters with administration, they suggested we make a formal complaint to the Senate,” said Peoples of the alleged violations. Peoples himself does not have a grievance against the senator, but “I’m their leader. I should help them,” he explained.
One of the allegations against the senator includes comments he made in senate chambers to the effect that he wanted to “bomb The Free Press.”
“He was insulting The Free Press,” Peoples said of the incident. “It was taken as an insult. It was completely inappropriate for a student senator to say. We’re a division of the Student Senate and he said he wanted to bomb us. Even if it’s a joke, it is totally uncalled for.”
The complaints also outline acts of intimidation such as yelling, public ridicule, and accusing The Free Press of being a neo-Nazi-sympathizing publication.
Peoples believes the latter comment stems from a classified advertisement that ran in The Free Press in October. The ad was placed by political extremist Bradley R. Smith after much discussion among Free Press staff.
“It isn’t like we threw something in without thinking. It is a free speech issue. The ad was not openly advocating any view and was not outwardly offensive. Nobody on staff agrees with him [Smith], but we agreed that he had a right to say what he said because he was doing it in a way that wasn’t offensive.”
Peoples also included an editorial in that issue describing the steps taken to determine whether the ad should run.
“I don’t know what he’s thinking. If he’s still holding onto that from last semester he has some serious growing up to do,” Peoples concluded.
Sen. Hoffman did not return The Free Press’ phone call regarding this matter.
Members of the VIC Senate Parliamentarian Matthew Amoroso and Senate Chair Marcy Muller declined to comment on the allegations.
Amoroso is serving as Chair of the VIC, and explained that a meeting of the VIC will be held this evening to investigate the alleged violations. The committee will determine through a series of interviews of witnesses if Sen. Hoffman has committed a violation. If he is found guilty, the committee will then formulate a suggested punishment to bring before the Senate.
“The Senate can agree or disagree [with the VIC] on whether he is guilty or not, and on the suggested punishment. The VIC does the work outside of the [Senate] meeting, but the [Senate] decides in the end,” explained Amoroso. If Sen. Hoffman is found guilty, the VIC will bring its recommendation before the Senate during the session on Friday.
Alive Editor Elise Adams can be contacted at: [email protected]