A Wednesday hearing for the Registered Student Organization Blacks Interested in Business, accused of forgery and misallocation of funds by the Undergraduate Student Council Internal Affairs Committee, was inconclusive because of the absence of the organization’s leader.

The hearing was a part of an investigation that began April 10 after workers in Student Development alleged that the group’s president Greg Akers, who was running for USG vice president with the Saluki Party, entered Student Development and attempted to transfer $300 from the organization’s account to the Saluki Party.

Akers and Saluki Party presidential candidate Sean Henry had an authorization form signed by BAC coordinator Tiffany Thomas to transfer the money, but the two halted the transfer when questions arose over the legitimacy of such a transfer.

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The Internal Affairs Committee adjourned the meeting after about two hours without reaching a decision. Committee Chairwoman Connie Howard said the committee would have to schedule a second hearing because certain people who were needed to provide testimony could not attend.

Akers was unable to attend the meeting because he was under doctor’s care at the time.

Some testimonies were heard at the meeting from the Blacks Interested in Business adviser Michael Haywood, Black Affairs Council coordinator Tiffany Thomas, Student Development Assistant Director Katie Sermersheim, USG Finance Committee member Melissa Carlson, former treasurer of the group Michael Ray and Henry.

Sermersheim said she talked with Henry and he agreed to halt the transfer. Sermersheim then contacted Election Commissioner Mindy Scott who said she could not find any reason why such a transfer would be against election rules.

Sermersheim said that although she did not see the form, accountants in Student Development discovered a discrepancy with the adviser’s signature on the form and alerted the staff that there might be a problem with the authorization.

The staff has questioned the signatures and is dealing with it appropriately though SIUC security, Sermersheim said.

A date and time for a second hearing tentatively is scheduled for Sunday.

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