By Brian Villalba
Impeachment proceedings have begun for East Los Angeles College’s Associated Student Union Commissioner of Administration of Justice, Antonio Alonso.
The proceedings are in response to an alleged breach of personal information committed by the Alonso.
Alonso confessed to ASU President Jennifer Estrada that he had breached personal information of a female student who was seeking ASU assistance.
Alonso said he obtained the female student’s mobile phone number, using ASU’s front desk computer and proceeded to send her text messages. ASU’s student worker computer had access to student information.
According to Estrada, the text messages expressed affection for the female student. The confession came after the student filed a formal complaint.
Before the formal complaint was filed, there were a number of discussions with Estrada in relation to this incident. Alonso had denied sending the text messages, and was unwilling to allow Estrada to see his mobile phone to clear his name.
The student, whose personal information was unlawfully obtained, did not want to file a formal complaint, but her boyfriend convinced her to.
According to Estrada, the student was concerned that she was not the first student to have her personal information obtained illegally by Alonso. She was also concerned that Alonso may know where she lives, according to Estrada.
Estrada informed Alonso that due to this incident, the student wanted to have his resignation. She gave him the ultimatum that if she had not received the resignation by Friday, that she would begin proceedings for his impeachment.
The next day Alonso gave his confession to Estrada. After Alonso’s confession, he apologized for the breach of confidentiality, but Estrada determined the apology to be insufficient given the severity of the breach, and proceeded with the impeachment process.
As a result of the breach of personal information by Alonso, ASU has lost its privilege of access to student information. “The damage is already done. A simple sorry isn’t enough. I feel I can’t trust him with the slightest thing,” Estrada said.
Under ASU constitutional bylaws, a special meeting of ASU officers will determine whether or not to impeach Alonso. The special meeting is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 26, according to Estrada.
Alonso has indicated his intent to not attend the special meeting. The special meeting will require a two-thirds majority vote to impeach Alonso, which will take effect immediately if passed.
An appeal may be submitted to ASU adviser Sonia Lopez for determination by ELAC Interim President Farley Herzek, whose decision will be final.
The alleged breach of personal information and the alleged subsequent text messages are a violation of the Commissioner of Administration of Justice position requirements.
They are impeachable offenses under Section 3, Article V, of the ASU constitution.
The ASU constitution lists “Gross misconduct while carrying out ASU related activities,” and “Acting in a manner which contradicts the rule of the ASU Constitution and bylaws,” as the two specific impeachable offenses.