VSA Council appoints new Lathrop president, again

Katie Paul Guest Writer

Newly appointed Lathrop House President Kyle Giunta ’08 submitted his resignation to the Vassar Student Association (VSA) Council on Sunday, Feb. 26, making him the second Lathrop House President to resign this semester. Lathrop’s Vice President Amalia Sax-Bolder ’08 was appointed to the vacant presidential position and Giunta assumed her role as vice president, also by appointment.

The VSA appointed Giunta as house president at their Feb. 19 meeting, following the resignation of Doug Dalessandro ’07 in late January. Giunta’s recent resignation came in response to concerns expressed by several house members about the nature of the VSA’s appointment procedures. “Lathrop House felt really betrayed by the process,” said Sax-Bolder during the VSA meeting.

During the meeting, Giunta also emphasized that Lathrop had “been through enough trouble in past months” when he announced that he would be stepping down. This sentiment was echoed by VSA President Rick Rodems ’06, who described Giunta’s resignation as part of a reconciliation.

Complaints about the appointment focused on miscommunications resulting from a lack of clear protocol, not on the candidate himself, according to Lathrop House Advisor Molly MacElroy. “I think [Giunta] would have made a great president,” said MacElroy. “I’m glad he’s still a part of the house team.” She and her Residential Life colleagues expressed concerns about the president being someone who would join the existing house team halfway through the year, a position she said was “difficult for anyone to be in.”

After declaring Dalessandro’s position vacant on Jan. 26, the VSA opted to fill his post by appointment rather than election to minimize transitional difficulties. During last Sunday’s appointment, Rodems explained the VSA’s reasons for another appointment.

“This seemed like the most expedient [option],” said Rodems. He noted that the VSA believed the appointment was “truest to the desires of the Lathrop House Team.” Three people originally applied for the vacant position, including both Giunta and Sax-Bolder. The VSA considered their applications in light of the recommendations of the house adviser, house intern, fellows and other house officers.

Although Rodems admitted that the appointment had “created quite some controversy” in the last week, Council members, house officers and Residential Life staff alike expressed optimism about the final outcome.

The VSA Constitution currently only states that the house secretary should act as the President’s representative “in the event of his or her absence or incapacity.” Members of Council said they hoped the incident would prompt clarification of the exact course of action in the case of a house officer’s resignation.

Additional reporting by Fabian Arzuaga, News Editor