 "Photo: Randy Illum/Associate Photography Editor")
More than 75 students attended a Rutgers College Program Council meeting on Monday night to show their support for Garret Richardson, Rutgers College junior and RCPC music chair.
Richardson was facing a pending impeachment.
"The charges are a culmination of resentment towards me" and "personal vendettas against me," said Garret E. Richardson in response to charges brought against him by the Rutgers College Program Council, who called for his impeachment Monday night.
RCPC held a hearing on the impeachment of Richardson, who was the RCPC Music chair, citing various reasons ranging from lack of communication, neglect of responsibilities and perpetual tardiness.
However, Richardson said he feels the council will lessen its diversity should its members impeach him. Supporters planned to protest the meeting, rallying behind a member of the black community. Richardson is also the president of the Black Men's Collective.
A large crowd of supporters of Richardson filled conference Room 116 of the Busch Student center and lingered in the hallway when seats were not available, in protest of the call for Richardson's impeachment.
During the hearing, Vice President of Music Bob Ren gave a motion to impeach Richardson, reading off a list of 22 charges.
Richardson was then given the chance for a rebuttal to explain why he thought the charges were unjust.
Richardson said when he would ask for instructions sometimes he wouldn't get a response.
"How can I know what to do if no one communicates with me?" he asked.
Richardson also felt the council was biased against him, claiming he was made aware on more than one occasion of certain council members commenting about his involvement in his other African-American based organizations.
Five council members spoke in favor of Richardson's impeachment, and five people from outside the council spoke against his impeachment.
Vice President of Special Events Karla Salguero said she found Richardson to be an inconsistent member and doesn't believe he has the time to invest in RCPC.
Vice President of Training and Development Ying Zheng said Richardson "failed to take part in social team building" and "did not provide valid reasons for missing meetings and did not reply to emails except for one occasion."
Although 17 council members voted in favor of Richardson's impeachment, there was a crowd of approximately 50 people that were ready to challenge the charges.
Akwasi Amponsah said he felt the charges reflected a personal vendetta against Richardson.
RCPC council members said Richardson would purposely schedule meetings for the Black Men's Collective at the same time that RCPC would meet.
"Every time we have a meeting he is putting in time for you guys," said Rutgers College sophomore Kareen Absolu, a member of the BMC.
Douglass College senior Charlene McGregor said Richardson's role in RCPC is critical because he will ensure diversity in the organization.
"Article five of the constitution says that the music committee is responsible for putting on diverse shows and looking at the board, the committee is not diverse. That's why we need him there," she said.
Once the council voted to decide whether the impeachment was valid, it was recorded 17 council members voted in favor of Richardson's impeachment.
The council left the conference room to deliberate in another private room to determine the sanctions that Richardson would face.
When the council reconvened, the president read off the set of stipulations Richardson would have to abide by in order to remain Music chair of RCPC, one of which included attending all committee meetings.
Some committee meetings however, conflicted with meetings of the BMC, forcing Richardson to choose between the two organizations.
"Choosing between RCPC and BMC isn't a decision I'm ready to make tonight," Richardson said.
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