UWSA Prez throws book at VP... literally
By Michal Tellos
News Editor
March 10, 2010
 Although UWSA board of directors (BoD) meetings can sometimes get heated, earlier this semester it was taken a step further.
After vice president of finance Aaron Campbell jokingly suggested extending the length of an already long meeting, UWSA president Mohsin Khan picked up a hardcover book and threw it at him. The book was a copy of Robert’s Rules of Order, which is ironically a book used by several governing bodies, including the UWSA, to maintain order and structure in meetings.
Several details are very key in the story, such as the strength of the throw, and the intention behind it.
Vice president university affairs Robert Woodrich, an attendee of the meeting, said the throw occurred with “what appeared to be considerable force,” after Campbell said something about having more questions that would prolong the meeting.
Another non-voting board member, Thomas Sasso, said that emotions were already running high at the lengthy and stressful meeting.
The meeting had an in-camera portion in which board discussed issues pertaining to executives, and this lasted approximately an hour, resulting in the added time.
“After this in camera session we went into question period where Mr. Ajimal jokingly suggested that he had many questions to ask that would take a long time. Everyone laughed. We then went into the new business section of the agenda, which immediately precedes adjournment,” explained Sasso.
“Mr. Khan, acting as the chair of the meeting, asked if there were any items for new business. Mr. Campbell spoke up saying in a jesting tone that he had several financial documents that he wanted board to review. At this point Mr. Khan picked up his book of Robert's Rules of Order and, with the full force of an overhand throw, threw the book at Mr. Campbell,” he added.
Sasso also said that while the book did not hit Campbell, it had enough force to bounce off the floor to the other side of the room. Both Campbell and Sasso then walked out of the meeting.
The issue was addressed by BoD at the Jan. 19 meeting, where Khan apologized both openly and in-camera. He apologized for his “out of character behaviour,” adding that his actions were “regrettable.”
Campbell later said in the meeting that as an employee of the UWSA, he is concerned about safety, although he has had no prior issues with Khan. Campbell did not attend the executive meeting following the incident, stating that the decision was a “personal choice.”
Neither Khan nor Campbell would comment on the incident.
Since the apology, no further progression was made, though rumors have swirled.
“I know of no progression since the forced apology, though talk has spread through members of council about potential impeachment proceedings of Mr. Khan as president. If Mr. Campbell had decided to take legal action against the UWSA, which is his right to do, Mr. Khan could have cost the UWSA students a lot of money in legal fees and settlement payments,” said Sasso.
To date, Campbell has not sought legal justice regarding the incident.
Although Campbell did not attend the subsequent executive meeting, Woodrich has said that his working relationship with both executives has remained relatively stable.
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