University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Student Association (SA) Vice President Jon Tingley resigned from his executive position at Sunday“s Senate meeting, citing discomfort with the direction the SA has taken during his term in office.

In a letter to the Senate, Tingley said that bias within the Senate Finance Committee (SFC) and possible party improprieties for the upcoming SA presidential elections demanded his resignation.

“The SFC trampled on students while under the guise of protecting their rights. The senators may have been saving student“s money, but they were also robbing them of essential services and a well-rounded college experience,” Tingley wrote in his resignation.

The issue of corruption in the election process was also cited in the letter, accusing some in the Students United for Change (SUFC) party of dishonest politics.

“The amount of corruption in this year“s election is more than anyone could have imagined. There is a prominent member of one party dating the independent election commissioner, yet we still call her independent,” said Tingley.

Independent Elections Commissioner Ada Hyso did not return a phone call seeking comment late Sunday night.

Other senators felt that the allegations in the letter were off base.

“I think it is unfortunate that he had to resign. I feel like his allegations are false and empty, and that he could have done more personally to remedy a lot of the problems he cited in his letter,” said SUFC presidential candidate and SA Sen. Robert Grover.

SFC member and SA Sen. Dan Bahr also refuted the claims in the letter.

“I“m sorry he feels that way, but you have to respect other people“s opinions. I think we were fair in our proceedings and there is no substance to the corruption charges,” Bahr said.

Tingley added that most of the people in the organization were amazing, but that “many ambitious and honest people in all branches of SA have been silenced or discouraged by a few who have their own interests at heart.”

When asked of the corruption allegations in the letter, SA President Samantha Prahl announced possible intentions to have an independent third-party member look into the matter.

There is no timetable to appoint a new vice president at this time, but Prahl said that she hopes to fill the position early next week.

In other Senate business, University Student Court appointees Michael Roberts and Marty McNutt were approved at the meeting. Rebecca Ellenbecker and Gabe Wahhab were elected to the Senate Appropriations Committee, with the resignation of Vice Chair Tobin Huibregtse earlier in the week opening a total of two spots. Additionally, Lauren Otte filled a Senate seat from the School of Social Welfare.

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