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GLOs/AEPi control U Fla govt. bureaus
Fraternity runs SG bureau
By MEGAN SEERY
Alligator Staff Writer
ACCENT CHAIRMEN 1990-2005
(back to story)
1990 – 1991 Richard Brilliant Alpha Epsilon Pi
1991 – 1992 M. Scott Thomas Phi Delta Theta
1992 – 1993 Marshall Rothman Alpha Epsilon Pi
1993 – 1994 David Seifer Alpha Epsilon Pi
1994 – 1995 Michael Cotzen Alpha Epsilon Pi
1995 – 1996 Michael Namath Alpha Epsilon Pi
Fall 1996 David Meade Tau Kappa Epsilon
Spring 1997 Adam Sheinkopf Alpha Epsilon Pi
1997 – 1998 Andrew Rosin Alpha Epsilon Pi
1998 – 1999 Jason Collier Alpha Epsilon Pi
1999 – 2000 Justin Sternberg Alpha Epsilon Pi
2000 – 2001 Mike Mosseri Alpha Epsilon Pi
2001 – 2002 Rob Heekin Sigma Chi
2002 – 2003 Eric Trabin Alpha Epsilon Pi
2003 – 2004 Seth Denison Alpha Epsilon Pi
2004 – 2005 David Buchalter Alpha Epsilon Pi
Control of the nation’s largest student-run speakers bureau has rested in the hands of a single UF fraternity for 13 of the past 15 years.
Thirteen of the past 16 leaders of Accent are members of Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity. With a budget of $366,104 for the 2004-2005 academic year, Accent is one of Student Government’s most heavily funded agencies, making its chairperson one of the most important student leaders on campus.
Historically, key SG positions, such as the Accent chairmanship, have been linked to “open secret” deals arranged by Greek and other student organizations.
Despite promises to make SG positions accessible to all UF students, Student Body President Jamal Sowell selected an Alpha Epsilon Pi member, David Buchalter, for the current chairmanship in 2004.
Sowell said although he couldn’t comment on past Accent appointments, his support for Buchalter proves SG provides access to all students because Alpha Epsilon Pi, or AEPi, supported his competition, the Innovate Party.
“I told myself I would not be one of those candidates who blocked other groups because they lost,” Sowell said. “Look at the applications and see that David was the most qualified person.”
In 1998, a circuit court found that Florida Blue Key, UF’s oldest leadership honorary, had “historically employed a house and group system of control over members and aspiring members to determine candidates for Student Government elected and appointed offices,” according to court documents.
In practice, influential SG posts, including executive and legislative offices, were distributed among UF’s Greek chapters and other key organizations.
Phi Delta Theta Fraternity member Scott Thomas, who ran the bureau from 1991 to 1992, said his job was part of an “open secret” patronage system that existed when he was at UF.
“The Accent chairman was parceled out the same way other positions were back and forth,” he said, noting it wasn’t unusual for SG positions to remain within the same student group for long periods of time. “I’m sure that my appointment was part of political horsetrading back then.”
FBK member David Meade, a Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity member, said there was a break in the Accent-Alpha Epsilon Pi tradition when he became chairman in Fall 1996.
“I really wouldn’t categorize it as (a “legacy” position) per se,” said Meade, who noted it was “unusual” when he became chairman. “Before I was chairman, it was AEPi, and after I left it was AEPi.”
Alpha Epsilon Pi member Eric Trabin, chairman from 2002 to 2003, said times have changed, even if accusations of a patronage system linger.
“People will always want to say, ‘Oh, (Florida) Blue Key controls everything,’” Trabin said. “I think those sort of allegations and rumors will always exist.”
As the largest student-run speakers bureau in the nation boasting a large budget, Accent is an easy target, he said.
“You definitely deal with some criticism and you have to develop a thick skin for it,” Trabin said. “Accent has a really good reputation that speaks for itself.”
Nikki Fried, the Student Body president who appointed Trabin, said she does not think Alpha Epsilon Pi’s history with Accent denies access to other students.
“Everybody got fair and equal treatment,” said Fried, who added Trabin was the only “remotely qualified” applicant. “I have always been an advocate to have the doors opened in SG.”
Alpha Epsilon Pi members weren’t hooked up to a “legacy” position but instead often were the most qualified applicants to lead the bureau, said Michael Cotzen, Accent chairman from 1994 to 1995 and an Alpha Epsilon Pi alumni.
“It may be that certain demographic of the student population were the chairmen,” he said, “but I think we all did a good job.”
And Buchalter, a member of the Jewish fraternity, agreed.
He added that if his job is a “legacy” position, it’s news to him.
“People in AEPi do things all over campus,” Buchalter said. “The diversity of our involvement gives people experience.”
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