Resignation of Senior Class President fuels criticism of Student Activities

By: Lauren Alford

Jr. News Editor

Senior Class President and president of the Programming Club, Zach Wood, resigned from the student senate on March 11, citing alleged incompetence of the student activities office.

“[I have resigned] due to frustration from lack of management and faculty from the Student Activities office,” Wood explained.

Wood blamed the disorganization and delays of the office on Alfredo D. Balarin, Assistant Director of Student Life and Education Opportunity Program.

“Alfredo is pretty much hindering the success of every club on campus,” Wood said.

Wood founded the programming club to teach students Python, a high-level programming language because the college currently doesn’t have a course on it.

One of Programming Club’s main goals was to eventually program and fly drones. To obtain the drones, the club first submitted a special funds request of roughly $2,200. The club was supposed to receive the drones in December 2018.

“Once we have the proper paperwork, it can take about two to three weeks to cut [the club] a check,” Balarin explained.

On March 26, about three months after submitting their special funds’ request, the Programming Club received their drones.

Once the request was approved, Balarin was to create an account with the Chinese drone manufacturing company DJI. This would allow the Programming Club to place an order for their drones. According to Wood, Balarin wanted the club to contact DJI on their own.

Wood reached out to three additional companies, all of which sold drones. These companies insisted that the person in charge of Hudson Valley Community College’s corresponding department must contact them, not the students.

“Some students can’t come and do a faculty member’s job,” Wood explained.

Wood said that Balarin repeatedly delayed the ordering process. Balarin was allegedly dissatisfied with the club’s efforts and demanded an invoice.

“Alfredo found every possible excuse not to order them,” Wood said.

Balarin refused to offer further comment on the Student Activities office operations.

Not only has the Programming Club had troubles with Student Activities, but so have the E-Sports Club.

According to E-Sports Club President, Ciara Zink, engineering science major, the club would reportedly have frequent clashes with Balarin, most of which occurred when their former president was in office.

Stated by club secretary and adolescent education major, Jarred Fink, Balarin allegedly called the E-Sports Club “cancer” during the fall semester of 2018.

As President, Zink has distanced the E-Sports Club from Student Activities. She said that the club no longer deals with Balarin as often.

“It’s a lukewarm neutrality,” Fink said.

However, multiple clubs have said they haven’t run into issues with Student Activities.

Physical science major and Theatre Club president, Sumner Jewell, explained that Student Activities has not given Theatre Club any difficulty.

“We deal amiably with Student Activities,” Jewell said. “We get things approved through them and have not had trouble setting anything up through them.”

“I would describe the relationship as mutually beneficial,” stated club secretary, Brianna Thompson, an individual studies major.

Pep Band has a similar opinion. According to club adviser and Hudson Valley Community College music professor, Mary Ann Gulyas, Pep Band is a club where students can explore their musicality and maintain their musical skills through practice.

Gulyas said that Student Activities was good with getting things approved. She expressed confusion at the concept of clubs having conflicts with Balarin.

“The people over [at Student Activities] are very helpful,” said Gulyas. “They approve things in a timely fashion.”

Amateur Radio Club also hasn’t had any bad experiences with Student Activities or Balarin.

“As far as communicating with Student Activities, it’s only when we need to order something,” club president and mortuary science major, Jeremiah Stevens, said. “From what I know, we haven’t had a lot of ‘you can’t have that.’”

Stevens said that from what club adviser Jonathan Ashdown has told him, Student Activities’ ordering process seemed generally straightforward.

Senator Syeda said, “I strongly believe that Student Activities is always looking to help and support the clubs at [Hudson Valley Community College].”