The purchase of two iPads in December 2012 by members of the University Park Undergraduate Association executive board has prompted a petition for review filed by the Internal Development Committee.
The petition, obtained by The Daily Collegian, was filed with UPUA’s Board of Arbitration earlier today.
The potential violations refer to the purchase of two iPads totaling $1,057.88. According to the petition for review, the purchase is in “direct violation of multiple clauses of the UPUA Budgetary Policy… as well as improper act of leadership according to the standards laid out in the UPUA Code of Practical Standards.”
The I.D. Committee received information of the purchase on Wednesday, according to the petition.
According to the petition, an Online Credit Card Purchase form was received by the office of Associated Student Activities on Dec. 13, 2012 for the purchase of two iPads from Apple.com at $499 each. On Dec. 19, the purchase was signed by Treasurer Matthew Falcon and co-signed by UPUA Chief of Staff John Zang.
The recipient of the iPads was Zang, according to an invoice from Apple.com outlined in the petition.
According to the petition for review, the UPUA Budgetary Policy states UPUA does not fund, “personal, non-contractual gain of any student faculty member, staff member or any other person exceeding fifty dollars.” The policy also states that cause for purchases amounting under $1,000 does not need to be brought to the floor through legislation, but the purchase brought under review is $57.88 over the maximum amount.
The UPUA Budgetary Policy also states that a one-page typed report must be submitted to the General Assembly for discretionary purchases, and if the spending violates the budgetary policy or the Student Activity Fee, the assembly must vote to review the spending, according to the petition for review.
The I.D. Committee also argues that the purchases are in violation of the Code of Practical Standards, citing that “members of the UPUA have a duty to uphold the Constitution and Bylaws of the UPUA,” and “members of UPUA will act in such a manner that their constituents, peers, and chairs can rely upon them to perform their duties to the best of their ability,” according to the petition for review.
“There were no rules broken. I’m definitely confident there were no violations,” Falcon (junior- accounting), who co-signed the purchase with Zang, said.
The Board of Arbitration will review the petition to determine further action regarding the violations. Zang said he was not aware he was breaking any rules when he purchased the iPads in December.
“The members with misgivings submitted a complaint to Arbitration and they will be looking for merit into the violations, and I don’t think they will find any,” Zang (senior-international politics) said.
Zang said he bought the iPads because they are useful and effective tools for UPUA members.
“The iPads were purchased to increase the ability to do work and allow members the access to resources in doing their jobs,” Zang said.
Chief Justice of Board of Arbitration Ryan Thomas said this is an ongoing investigation. It has received the complaint from the I.D. Committee and its members will meet in the next few days to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, he said.
“We are going to vote on whether or not we will hear it, but I assume we will,” Thomas (senior-psychology) said.
Read Thursday’s edition of The Daily Collegian for more information.
