In accordance with its recently revamped constitution, the A.S. Council confirmed nominations of six associate vice presidents at its May 23 meeting. Five of the candidates were approved without contention, but one nomination – associate vice president of athletic relations – sparked a volatile debate about the candidate’s qualifications and the selection process more generally.

After conferring with a selection committee that included three senators and former Associate Vice President of Athletic Relations Kari Gohd, Vice President of Student Life Donna Bean nominated Eleanor Roosevelt College sophomore Stephanie Chang for the slot over three other candidates. Chang’s appointment was met with criticism mostly from supporters of one of her opponents, Earl Warren College junior Dan Palay, a council veteran and current chair of the Athletics, Recreation and Sports Facility Advisory Board.

“”Personally, I’m still reaching to try to understand [the decision] a little better,”” Palay said.

Palay, the runner-up in this year’s presidential race, made promotion of campus athletics a key issue of his campaign platform, and also acted as a representative for UCSD athletes in a grievance hearing during the undergraduate athletics fee referendum vote in January. Palay’s advocates stressed his familiarity with the council’s inner workings and referenced Chang’s inexperience in student politics as a reason to reconsider the decision.

At the meeting, All-Campus Senator Meghan Clair objected to Chang’s approval on the grounds that the council had not been informed of Bean’s selection criteria. Clair later moved to amend the item to read Palay’s name instead of Chang’s. However, after sharp criticism from Sixth College Senator John Cressey regarding the role of appointment committees, she withdrew her amendment.

Triton Tide Director Dave Payne, a vocal backer of Palay, expressed his lack of faith in Chang based in part on conversations he had with other athletes.

“”I don’t think [the committee] selected the right person,”” he said at the meeting. “”We put our faith in the committee and they didn’t follow through like they should have. I do not think Stephanie Chang is qualified for this position at this time.””

Despite her lack of council experience, Bean said she was confident in Chang’s ability to unite students who voted both for and against the referendum, as well as cooperate effectively with the other associate vice president offices under the umbrella of the student life department.

“”What really made Stephanie stand out was her vision for the office this year,”” Bean said. “”I liked the way she envisioned working with the other offices to establish a sense of community.””

Chang said she frames her position as coxswain for the women’s crew team as another factor that contributed to her selection, as her intimate knowledge of the campus’s athletic experience could potentially aid her in her decision making.

“”I think a big factor was probably that I’m an athlete,”” Chang said. “”My job is to represent them. If you’re not an athlete, it’s hard to learn how to juggle the two full-time jobs.””

Some councilmembers who spoke out against the appointment claimed they were not provided adequate review of the candidates, leading to further discussion of whether the appointment process adequately represents the student body.

“”My only thought [about the interview process] is that I think there should have been some input from Triton Tide,”” Payne said in an e-mail. “”I could have been accommodated to sit in on the committee, or the VP of Student Life could have asked for my opinion on what to look for in a new AVP of athletic relations.””

Bean, however, defended the way in which the interview process was conducted, saying that she had to personally request that enough senators attend the interviews to achieve quorum.

“”I don’t think what people are criticizing is appropriate,”” she said. “”None of the critics were actually on the interview committee, though they were invited three times. If they did have an issue with it, I wish they’d been on the committee or addressed me personally.””

Vice President of Finance and Resources Sarah Chang, who sat on the committee with Bean, said Palay was not denied the position because he was unqualified, but that Stephanie Chang was more apt to meet the needs of all UCSD students, including nonathletes.

“”It’s no question: Dan Palay is very qualified for this position,”” she said in an e-mail. “”The claim that he is the MOST qualified candidate, however, is debatable. While Stephanie is new to the A.S. scene, she demonstrated an acute sense of the balance necessary to run the office.””

The council ultimately approved the original nomination by a 13-7 vote, followed by smattered applause.

Before her appointment, Stephanie Chang expressed her respect for Palay, and said she would gladly welcome his input in regard to athletics-related matters next year.

“”I’m not as experienced at A.S., but when I do something, I do it 100 percent,”” she said. “”I’ll take anybody’s help.””