February 5, 1981: CASA’s President Wins In Disorderly Election

By D. Leon Smith

Arnold Burton, President of C.A.S.A. at Lehman, has been elected Vice Chairman for Fiscal Affairs to the University Student Senate. Burton, a member of the party opposing incumbent Lenny Shine, will assume responsibility for his new position immediately.  Garth Marchant succeeds shine as Chairperson of the organization.

The election was full of tension and ill-manner.  Delegates from colleges supporting Marchant led the meeting in anger and anarchy.  Elizabeth Garcia, senator delegate from Lehman, questioned Shine on a lawsuit brought against him and Chancellor Kibbee by an old inside associate, Fredi Washington. Delegates backing Mr. Shine were visibly annoyed with Garcia for bringing up this issue, which had never made it to litigation proceedings.  Shine replied that the suit is unjust and that he was always open to questions and Garcia was trying to discredit Mr. Shine and swell support for her party.

            Two other parties opposing Shine were led by Jerry Savage and Nathaniel Dolphine.  Savage received 6 votes and Dolphine a humongous 3 (try not to laugh).  A second vote was taken after Dolphine and Savage were eliminated.  The end result, Shine 17- Garth 24, was an unexpected defeat.

            Shine’s reputation as Chairman of the U.S.S. was of the highest esteem and credibility.  He had very close ties with several members of the Board of Trustees and a trusting relationship with Chancellor Kibbee.

            Among Shine’s contributions to C.U.N.Y. in 1980 were his blocking Mayor Koch’s proposed tuition increase and a secure commitment for Governor Carey to block implantation of the Education Department’s new T.A.P. regulations.  He later initiated a lawsuit against the State Education Department to overturn the new T.A.P. regulations.

            All three delegates from Lehman were voting with the opposition.  Immediately after Garth was announced the victor, Elizabeth Garcia, his ally from years past, threw herself into Burton’s arms in celebration.  While the voting was going on, Sam Farrell, President of the Black Student club was seen communicating with members of Garth’s party. It was Sammuel Farrell, a public accountant , just back from Africa, who had planned the defense.

            Mr. Marchant in his election speech to the delegates, promised to make an issue of the 10-year plan, a report submitted by the Board of Trustees as a guide for future policy making.  He also said the plan was dangerous to the students of CUNY. Marchant also spoke against the new G.E.D regulations saying that they have a tremendous effect on the students of CUNY.  Shine gave his farewell speech to the Board of Trustees on January 25th, after Marchant introduced his Executive Committee, including Arnold Burton.