Variety learned there was an administration-sponsored complaint against Ivan T. Mereb, Associated Students of NMC president, and Lena K. Wabol, ASNMC secretary.
The complaint questioned Mereb and Wabol’s academic records and the operation of the student center.
Variety was told that both officers failed to get the required grade point average and that the student center was being misused under Mereb’s.
No basis
In an interview, Mereb said there was no basis for attempting to remove him from office.
“The basis of the complaint violates the ASNMC Constitution,” he said.
GPA and student center’s usage do not fall within the six conditions cited by the constitution under the heading “Removal and Recall from Office.”
Any ASNMC officer can only be removed or recalled from office if he has unexcused absences in a maximum of two meetings every semester, have more than three absences in meetings every semester, failed to fulfill duties and responsibilities, withdrawn from all his classes at NMC completely, failed to fulfill the requirements of Articles III, section A, and if he is convicted of criminal behavior.
Mereb told Variety that the student center was used for the benefit and welfare of the students.
He denied reports that he allow students to hold parties and take some equipment outside from the student center and use it for their personal purposes.
“Why are they questioning this only now,” Mereb said, referring to his GPA.
He has been elected for two terms already yet the NMC administration did not raise any concern until recently.
Under Article VIII of the ASNMC Constitution, Mereb said, the college administration is informed if students running for ASNMC posts are qualified.
Asked for comment, the NMC president’s office said: “Northern Marianas College does not release information or comment on matters that involve individual student records.”
It added, “The ASNMC plays an integral role at the college. The group participates in all levels of decision making at the college through the institution’s shared governance process. It has, for example, representatives in the college council and the budget and finance committee.”
Protest
Last Monday, after a meeting with the NMC administration, Mereb said it was decided to maintain the status quo.
However, he said, the investigation about the complaint against him and Wabol will continue but procedure should be followed when removing officers of ASNMC.
While the meeting was in progress, Mereb said students already gathered at the student centers with a petition and signs demanding the administration to reinstate the two ASNMC officers.
The students would have staged a protest action on campus, Variety learned.
Mereb believed that the protest was a “vote of confidence” in his leadership.
Last week after NMC conducted the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated Building M — Mereb was the emcee during the ceremony — there was an “oral order” for him to voluntarily resign as ASNMC president, Variety learned.
Mereb said he was “approached” by a college official.
Good leadership
NMC freshmen Merrilyn Castro, Samylyn Atalig and Sheila Secanbile said Mereb is “a good president” and a “responsible person.”
Castro said Mereb never misused the student center because “he knows his limitation.”
Four other students who declined to be identified said they admire Mereb’s leadership but added that not all officers of the ASNMC “are good.”
They said Mereb is “friendly to the students” and always attends to their needs.
However, one of the students said Mereb should implement rules in the use of gaming equipment at the student center so “everybody can play.”
