Allegations of improper conduct surface
SGA President Carter denies rumors of having an affair
Chris Crankshaw
Issue date: 11/5/07 Section: News
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During the Oct. 24 Student Government Association open forum, Christine Bowersox, a Goodlettsville freshman, asked if the administration was investigating SGA President De'Wayne Carter and "rumors that have been circling the campus regarding Mr. Carter and some of the other female staff in his office."
"I was just wondering [about] the impression that the students at this school are getting regarding the professionalism of the SGA office and if you intend to address that or if it should be brushed away," Bowersox continued.
Vol State President Dr. Warren Nichols quickly responded to Bowersox question by saying, "Those types of questions should never come up at something like this. Those types of questions are best reserved for one on one conversations with the appropriate people."
"When we do get issues like that though, we do investigate them and we investigate them thoroughly and if we find that there is improper conduct, we will take the appropriate action," Nichols went on to say.
"There is a rumor circulating that a certain member in the SGA office has engaged in inappropriate sexual activity with a female member of his staff in that particular office," Bowersox said as she left the forum.
"I do not want to substantiate that rumor, my purpose is simply to ensure that the impression that the students at Vol State have is correct regarding the members of [the SGA]," she said.
The allegation being levied against Carter is that he had an inappropriate relationship with fellow student Marie Lewis last fall, and then as Carter began his second term as SGA president, Lewis was chosen to be the SGA's secretary of communications.
Vice President for Student Services Patty Powell said, "Investigate what, a rumor?"
Carter said he would welcome an investigation into the matter because he has nothing to hide and that he has done nothing wrong.
In a prepared statement to The Settler, Carter said, "It is unfortunate that people listen to such ridiculous rumors like the one brought up in the forum, however, they are just that, rumors."
"I was just wondering [about] the impression that the students at this school are getting regarding the professionalism of the SGA office and if you intend to address that or if it should be brushed away," Bowersox continued.
Vol State President Dr. Warren Nichols quickly responded to Bowersox question by saying, "Those types of questions should never come up at something like this. Those types of questions are best reserved for one on one conversations with the appropriate people."
"When we do get issues like that though, we do investigate them and we investigate them thoroughly and if we find that there is improper conduct, we will take the appropriate action," Nichols went on to say.
"There is a rumor circulating that a certain member in the SGA office has engaged in inappropriate sexual activity with a female member of his staff in that particular office," Bowersox said as she left the forum.
"I do not want to substantiate that rumor, my purpose is simply to ensure that the impression that the students at Vol State have is correct regarding the members of [the SGA]," she said.
The allegation being levied against Carter is that he had an inappropriate relationship with fellow student Marie Lewis last fall, and then as Carter began his second term as SGA president, Lewis was chosen to be the SGA's secretary of communications.
Vice President for Student Services Patty Powell said, "Investigate what, a rumor?"
Carter said he would welcome an investigation into the matter because he has nothing to hide and that he has done nothing wrong.
In a prepared statement to The Settler, Carter said, "It is unfortunate that people listen to such ridiculous rumors like the one brought up in the forum, however, they are just that, rumors."
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