Tomasi Larry

Looking into the Student Government Association office in the A. E. Student Union, you would think that everything is in order.

But some students beg to differ.

Even before Tomasi Larry began his term as SGA president on July 1, he had already fired six staff members for having low GPAs.

And the numbers continue to grow.

When asked how many staff members he has fired, Larry said, “Let’s just say several.”

The SGA constitution only gives the 2.5 GPA requirement for the offices of the president, vice president, and Mr. and Miss NCCU, but Larry wants leaders to put academics first on their priority lists.

“Normally, administration would let a GPA below 2.5 slide,” said Larry.

“I made a presidential decision for students to have a 2.5 or higher, especially staff with executive board positions. We’re students first — we must remember that.”

In fact, Larry said he even tried to find an alternative to firing the six. “I was willing to put them on probation,” Larry said.

SGA adviser Constance Roberson denied his request.

Elementary education junior Lakesha Gorham, former executive director of campus affairs and one of the six who was fired from her position, does not agree with how Larry handled the whole issue.

“He hand picked his executive board,” said Gorham.

“He told people he would work with them concerning their GPAs, but the administration found out, so he fired people.”

Gorham, along with the five other staff members, said the only warning she received was an e-mail saying that they must attend a mandatory meeting with Vice President, Isaac Bellamy, Executive Assistant Kent Williams and SGA advisor Constance Roberson.

That’s when everyone was fired.

“During my interview to take the Executive Director position, my GPA was never [discussed],” Gorham said.

“I found out it was a problem when I got fired.”

Gorham said Larry allegedly blamed the six staff members for the overlooked GPAs.

“He made it seem like we were lying about our GPAs, but it’s on our applications,” Gorham said.

“I’m upset because my integrity and work ethics is being questioned.”

English senior Sean Kornegay, who replaced Gorham after she was fired, also questioned Larry’s leadership style.

“Tomasi was cordial to me, but he’s quick to jump the gun,”said Kornegay.

“He may have good motives, but bad people skills towards the people that worked with him,”

Unlike others, Kornegay decided to quit on his own.

He said that the firing of former Executive Director of Public Relations Ashley Witherspoon was one of the main reasons for his resignation.

“The situation with Ashley was just shady. The time of night he called her, the way he called her and cursed her out over the phone was handled very poorly,” said Kornegay.

The justification for firing Ashley didn’t match the praises and recognition he was giving her in several meetings before he fired her.”

Witherspoon declined to comment.

Gorham and Kornegay both recognized how SGA is not like “it used to be” now that Larry has taken the throne.

“I’ve been in SGA since my freshman year and half the people Tomasi started working with, he doesn’t have now,” said Gorham.

“When I worked with [former SGA President] Muhktar last year, it was a family. Now, it’s so business driven — it’s not even fun.”

Kornegay also bemoans the lack of unity in the SGA.

“I’ve noticed how the staff around him is more cliquish,” said Kornegay.

“They have this separatist attitude about them.”

Yet, Larry has a very different perspective.

“I prefer to call it reorganizing the executive board of SGA,” said Larry.

Larry also emphasized the fact that SGA is an extracurricular activity and students can’t place it over their education.

“I want to be in compliance with everything,” said Larry. “The six that were reorganized had to happen immediately.”

Larry denied trying to cover up anything and said that people are given at least three chances to get their act together.

“I never try to do things in the dark or behind someone’s back,” said Larry.

“When you do things ethically, there’s no need to hide. Besides the GPA situation, I am required by the constitution to give a warning letter, have a formal meeting, and a two week probation period before I can let someone go,” said Larry.

Larry said he did offer lower staff positions to the reorganized group so that they could continue to work for SGA and receive a stipend.

“If you don’t have a position, I can’t give you a stipend,” said Larry.

“We know that they are dependent on that money, so that’s why we offered them a lower position,” said Larry.

Larry realizes this could harm some personal relationships, but wants people to know that at the end of the day animosity towards one another will not accomplish anything.

“I understand that people will always have cruel things to say about their leaders,” said Larry.

“But, under the Larry-Bellamy administration, we are going to cut out all of the foolishness that has happened in SGA previously,” said Larry.

“Many people may have been hurt and upset from decisions that I had to make and that’s understandable.

“I will never allow anyone to control me to the point where I dislike them because at the end of the day, we are all fighting for unification and progress of NCCU.”

SGA Chief of Staff Samantha Carter, understands what Larry is trying to do.

“Larry holds SGA as a business,” Carter said.

“He gives support and at the same time if you’re not doing your job, he let’s you know. That’s the sign of a good leader — to point out your short comings and strengths.”