Student Assembly Vice President and former President Zach Pilchen ’09 admitted last night to making personal purchases amounting to $138.51 at the end of last semester using a debit card connected to an off-campus account managed by the SA.
Pilchen came forward concerning his involvement with the missing funds after SA President Valerie Hopkins ’09 confronted him following an investigation by Hopkins, Senators Matt Beato ’09 and Walter McClean ’09, Secretary of Finance Yael Gilboa ’11 and Senate finance chair Caroline Mullis ’09. Upon returning from summer break, the group encountered a discrepancy in the account’s funds, as well as a missing statement that contained the purchases in question.
Nobody could offer an explanation as to why the statement was missing.
The purchases, which range from just over $3 to $20, took place during a 15-day span beginning April 28 and ending May 12.
Pilchen acknowledged using funds from the SA’s account to buy items such as movie tickets, cigarettes and sandwiches. The purchases were made at a variety of Williamsburg area stores including Wawa, Rite-Aid and McDonald’s. The initial purchase occurred at a movie theater on April 28.
“I had been carrying [the debit card] around,” Pilchen told The Flat Hat last night. “I literally went to a movie, pulled my wallet out, and gave them the card and then got it back and was like ‘holy shit, that’s the Student Assembly card.’”
Hopkins remembered Pilchen admitting the incident and believed that it was an isolated occurrence.
“He seemed genuinely kind of surprised, and he was very lighthearted about it …. He was like, ‘I can’t believe I did this, I accidentally bought tickets to “Harold and Kumar” and I really don’t want to run into problems with that,’” Hopkins said. “He was like, ‘Don’t worry, I’m going to pay it back no problem, it’s fine. I’ll just go to the bank and deposit it.’ I’m not Zach’s mom. I didn’t want to stand over him; I trusted him to do that.”
Over the next two weeks, Pilchen ran up 16 more charges on the account. He did not pay anything back, although he said plans to pay off his debt today.
The SA account, which is managed by SunTrust bank and is required by SA bylaws to be held in the names of the SA president and secretary of finance, has a current balance of $16,797.81. It is comprised entirely of money raised by the SA through sales, drives and other fundraising efforts. The fund does not include any student activities money and is intended to be used “for, but not limited to, special projects and events,” according to the SA code.
The debit card used in Pilchen’s purchases has a $750 cap on monthly spending that was intended to limit the cardholder’s ability to withdraw large amounts.
Every transaction made using the debit card is required to be approved by the SA president. However, Pilchen’s name remained on the card following the March SA election won by Hopkins even though the SA code states that signatory authority of the account must be transferred to the new president and secretary within five business days of inauguration.
Pilchen’s purchases occurred after his presidency had expired.
“[Pilchen] should have switched the account over within five days,” Beato said. “If [Hopkins] didn’t authorize some of those expenses, they are absolutely not allowed.”
Hopkins and Pilchen credit the delay in transferring over the accounts to the Williamsburg City Council election, the exam period and the resignation of Secretary of Finance Andrew Blasi ’10 at the end of the year. According to Hopkins, the account will be transferred into hers and Gilboa’s names today.
Debit card statements released by the SA show a pattern of small purchases developing after the card was used at the cinema. Over the next two days, $25.57 was charged at Wawa, while six purchases totaling $32.09 were made on May 6 and 7 at Wawa, the Student Exchange and McDonald’s.
“I literally just didn’t think it was going to be that big a deal,” Pilchen said. “I would not have tried to do this maliciously.”
Pilchen said he planned to pay back all the money when he returned to campus after spending the summer in Washington.
He also said he wants to gauge student reaction before deciding whether to issue a campus-wide apology.
While the off-campus fund has existed for some time, the debit card was added during Pilchen’s presidency. Hopkins credits the card’s creation as the manifestation of a trust between the senate and the executive, but believes the card’s future existence will now be called into question.
“Regardless of whether or not all of this happened, the finance committee had to revisit executive spending Oct. 14,” Hopkins said, referring to a previously-planned review. “I think now it’s just going to come much sooner. I think we all pretty much agree that, as frustrating as it might be for me, that a debit card will no longer be there for SA presidents — at least for the time being.”
Flat Hat Assoc. News Editor Sam Sutton contributed reporting.
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91 Comments
This who scandal is like
This who scandal is like the current political scandal…let me vent a sec…
As a devout Christian voter tired of the extreme Christian right pretending to speak for me, I am extremely disturbed by McCain/Palin (or should I say McCain/Ann Coulter). The extremely conservative views of Ms. Palin will not serve our country well (including teaching religion in public schools via intelligent design for God’s sake?! C’mon who’s going to teach what the curriculum, Rev. Phelps?!). Also, the fact that the extreme right is ecstatic at Palin suggests to me that the economy is going to be put on the back seat in favor or the latest social issue that social conservatives believe in.
It is time to heal this world, to help those in need, and narrow the gap between rich and poor. It is time to wake up and accept that we need to work together once and for all. While I do not think abortion is right, I also do not think that that is the worst problem plaguing our country. I think helping the poor (instead of more tax breaks for the rich), not risking the retirement of our seniors by privatizing social security, helping the environment, and ensuring we have insurance for all is extremely important. This is the true embodiment of Christian love.
God forbid something happens to McCain and she’s our president?! She’s so polarizing! I think Ms. Palin’s views on intelligent design, praying the gay away, funding of private Christian schools over public schools, and the like to see how she is very similar to Ann Coulter ideologically. McCain clearly showed poor decision-making in picking her—being pressured by the extreme right-wing. What we end up with is worse than even Bush/Cheney—we end up with a McCain/Coulter!
First Julie O’Brien, now this. Zach, you once talked about an SA that was going to represent students; now, it just seems you’re another politician with their hand in the till and a thirst for power. For shame.
I can only hope the Honor Council becomes involved in this situation. Intentional or not, all members of the William and Mary community should be held accountable for their actions, especially when individuals are entrusted by the community to represent them as a student body in a leadership position.
Taking money that isn’t yours is stealing. It’s very simple.
hrm. i would say he should resign, but he’s no longer pres anyways
William McClain was charged and arrested for this same behavior last semester. Whether it be $1,000 or $150, stealing is wrong and illegal. This should be reviewed by the administration/WMPD and legal action should be taken. Besides, who carries around a debt card to Wawa with a $17,000 balance? This revelation just reeks of corruption and irresponsibility.
Zach should apologize and step down immediately.
Good job SA, for finding out about the discrepancy.
Bad job, Zach, for creating it.
I doubt that this behavior was limited to the summer. I think the SA should do a full investigation and review all of the bank statements from this account extending through Pilchen’s whole term. Who knows how much he stole in total.
Additionally, people do not “accidentally” use credit/debt cards on nearly 20 different occasions without being aware of what they are doing.
Using the card once is not acceptable but, in some respects, understandable. However, using the card continually over the course of a month not only shows the intention to steal but plainly shows that it was not an accident. This is a blatant violation of the Honor and legal code.
Using it once by accident and promptly repaying would be one thing. This was a case of multiple uses, and no repayment within a reasonable timeframe. This is just as bad as, and in some ways substantially worse than, the nonsense that took place under Scofield.
this is what happens in the real world when you steal taxpayers money…
http://www.flathatnews.com/news/2288/housing-authority-director-charged-with-embezzlement
Get rid of Pilchen now.
Legal action should be taken and Pilchen should resign immediately. This kind of behavior is ridiculous.
The whole administration should resign. Hopkins admits that she was aware of the initial expense at the theater, and didn’t follow up on this discovery. Hopkins and Pilchen should both resign and an emergency election should be held.
This is ridiculous. I’ve known people who have gotten suspended from William and Mary for a semester for a lot smaller honor code violation than this. He should resign and then the honor council should treat him like any other student. One mistake is one thing, I’ve tried to pay for movie tickets with my student ID before by grabbing the wrong card, but after the first instance he should have been aware of the possibility and taken care not to do it again. And if it was an honest mistake, he would have been horribly embarrassed and paid the money back immediately. He obviously didn’t, doesn’t sound like the honest no BS VP we elected.
@9: what was the nonsense that took place under scofield?
Bradley Justus (Sco’s Secretary of Finance and the worst the SA has ever seen) signed the publications contract ($250,000) as both the Secretary of Finance and the Head of the Pub Council.
So Zach’s story is that he mistakenly used the card once at the movies, promptly told Val about it…but then made the same mistake an additional 16 times? Give me a break. Also, if he was using this debit card so much, wouldn’t he have been putting in his PIN number? Wouldn’t the PIN jog his memory about which card he was using? Two things obviously need to be done; the records for the debit card dating back to its inception need to be released to see how long this kind of theft was occuring, and Zach needs to be brought up before the Honor Council for Honor Code violations.
Zach, you’re a great guy and you were a great SA President. But it’s pretty hard to defend this, man. I can’t do it.
People get in worse trouble for drinking on campus (under-age) or doing drugs, but stealing is just as illegal. This prick, in a position of leadership, abused his powers. He should either be suspended indefinitely or expelled. At the minimum, the former student president should not receive a diploma from WM.
What a dbag… impeach his ass.
This is terrible disappointing. Mr. Pilchen has let us down.
Kudos to Ms. Hopkins, Mr. Beato, Mr McClean Ms. Gilboa and Ms Mullis for finding the discrepancy and for confronting Mr. Pilchen. That takes courage as a leader.
Zach makes me want to run for SA President. I too would like to be a lying, stealing, cheating SOB one day. PILCHEN/PALIN ’08!
The word “karma” comes to mind! I wonder if this news flash will anonymously pop up in college and university papers all over the state of Virginia? I sure as hell hope so!
It’s really easy to make comments when you’re anonymous…
The word “karma” comes to mind! I wonder if this news flash will anonymously pop up in college and university papers across the state of Virginia? I sure as hell hope so!
http://www.flathatnews.com/opinions/577/staff-editorial-pilchen-for-president
“Moreover, his commitment to tackling the bureaucratic complexity of the senate and administration will, we hope, lead to a more even dispersal of power and responsibility within the student government. This will provide a welcome departure from a micromanaging executive branch that consists of government majors with overly complex titles who do little or nothing to help students.”
See, Zach was just tacking some bureaucratic complexity by making an end run around policies and procedures. Good job, sir, and good choice, Flat Hat!
What delicious irony… Pilchen ousting Brandon Eickel for stealing his campaign platform, and then later caught stealing himself. Seems to me he should, at the very least, pay similarly.
Tom ’04:
Kudos to Hopkins? Give me a break- she acted just as irresponsibly by not following up on the incident last spring!
1) She should have MADE him deposit the money back. (i.e. drive him to SunTrust that month)
2) She should have transferred her name over to the account and taken his name off IMMEDIATLY following his initial purchase. And if Zach said he didn’t steal the money but used it for SA cabinet meetings, then why would he tell her he would repay the amount he originally took?? It makes no sense. Obviously, Valerie knew he was stealing from the account- she should have acted and fixed the problem.
The FlatHat quotes: “Hopkins and Pilchen credit the delay in transferring over the accounts to the Williamsburg City Council election, the exam period and the resignation of Secretary of Finance Andrew Blasi ’10 at the end of the year.” WHAT A BUNCH OF BS! Valerie, is responsible too. Just because she didn’t commit an honor council violation like Zach, it doesn’t mean she acted responsibly as the PRESIDENT OF THE STUDENT BODY.
I agree with Post #12, Zach should certainly be impeached ASAP. Valerie needs to apologize for not correcting the problem originally and should be reviewed by the SA and student body.
“Our Honor Code extends to our entire lives, it doesn’t go on and off when we walk out of the classroom,” said Pilchen.
http://www.dogstreetjournal.com/story/3862
I could find something witty to say… but I don’t think I need to.
@25: Your brilliance makes me weak in the knees. Will you please marry me?
#14—$17,000 managed to just disappear under Scofield that has never been found and he managed to keep his job and pretty much avoid any major repercussions.
While this is certainly reprehensible, let’s remember that what happened under Sco was much, much worse.
It is sorry to see how someone who has done so much for the students to screw up so badly. He should either resign or be impeached.
This is an outrageous abuse. He should face more than honor council charges, but police charges as well.
Uhm.
Why does this account even exist?
“Special projects and events” seems like a rather nebulous description, and makes it seem like this sort of thing is commonplace.
Ok, I’ll post under my full name. I love how many ‘anonymous’ comments we have. Zach has been hounded on the FH wall over and over again by the same bitter ex-girlfriend for some time. But posting ten times crosses the line.
The money was in no way stolen. To spin it in this way is ridiculous. Consider for a minute that everyone who registered 1 voter in the SA drive was paid $10. Zach was paid $0 and personally registered hundreds and ran the operation. $140 is peanuts, and I think it is perfectly legitimate to spent by the leader of a massive organization on food and other small purchases. Make him pay it back, if anything, but pursuing the issue further seems to be done currently by those jockeying for ‘power’ and for revenge than those with legitimate concerns.
I really regret having voted for Zach twice in the past. I hope they throw him out of this school on his ass.
As much as I don’t want to revisit the past, what $17,000 went missing under Sco? I’m just curious, I don’t really care to debate you on that.
I’ll add for #33 though, that this account exists because the SA makes an income of a couple thousand each year (not much at all) on fundraisers, and uses it for purchases that need to be made quickly. If that income was deposited in a state account it would be subject to rollover into the school’s general fund at the end of the year and very hard to spend. The account, because it is so unregluated by the Commonwealth of Virginia, is accordingly and understandably regulated by the SA fairly strictly.
Holy motherfucking shit fuck.
What the fuck Pilchen? What. The. Fuck.
I’d like to think that this fine paper would step up and write an Editorial similar to the one written for Brandon Eickel, just about a year ago. To quote your Editorial Board
“We disagree with Eickel in that we feel the theft of ideas is an egregious crime, regardless of Eickel’s intentions. We appreciate Eickel’s apology, but feel his actions are incomplete. In order to show that he has learned from his mistake, Eickel should resign his post to show his respect for JMU, JMU’s student government, …, and, most importantly, himself.”
http://www.flathatnews.com/opinions/1142/eickel-must-resign
If theft of ideas is such an “egregious” crime I would hope that the same Editorial board feels that a theft of monetary value should be considered an “egregious” crime as well.
SA members were not eligible for that money. Also, public officials taking from public coffers for their own interests has always been immoral, whether it is a head of state or a head of student body.
Steven Nelson,
Let me help you understand something: Zach Pilchen is not or never was the Student Assembly. He was the president, not the whole she-bang. Therefore, if he was to be “paid” for registering people to vote- the “student assembly” should have cut him a check.
The CEO of a company does not use the company account for personal items. Why? Well, that’s called embezzlement. That’s why the company PAYS the CEO a income. Then, that CEO goes and buys whatever he wants. It’s a matter of ethics, not convenience. You can not just go and take what you think you deserve. And you especially shouldn’t spend money from an SA account at Wawa or the movies when he should have cleared it first with Hopkins.
The account that the debit card was for was not a ‘public coffer.’ It was/is a private SA account which is used at the discretion of the SA President. It is entirely from fund raising and other non- student fee money.
Thank you for the bitter have-beens for smelling blood and multi-posting..
The most interesting thing we find out from this story…Zach Pilchen smokes. And is apparently a prick.
Steven Nelson,
“The account that the debit card was for was not a ‘public coffer.’ It was/is a private SA account which is used at the discretion of the SA President. “
Zach was not president when he made these purchases. Nor did he clear them with Val. So, your entire argument is flawed.
File this one in the irony department; Zach’s father is a lawyer who among other things…
- Has been named one of Washington, D.C.’s “go-to” white collar criminal defense counsel in Best Lawyers in America.
- Is the lead author of a comprehensive chapter on money laundering in the treatise Consumer Financial Services
- Was Co-chair, Subcommittee on Public Corruption, White-Collar Crime Committee, American Bar Association (1996-2001)
The saddest part of all this mess is that it further devalues the SA in the eyes of the students, administration, and the City. How can quality work get done under these cloudy circumstances? There are many SA representatives, both elected and appointed, who have given quality time and energy to the organization so that it might better the College and the student experience. This latest news only further damages an organization which means a lot to me and many other alum and current students. The SA can and should make a positive difference in the lives and students. Much more of this news and the SA will lose all relevance to students, if it hasn’t already. There are a lot of folks in SA to believe in and trust even if there are serious questions about Zach. I’m hope better days are yet to come.
I can’t believe this.
I literally just shat myself.
Thanks Pilchen.
As if the other things the SA blows its money on are more useful. Perhaps Zach Pilchen should have taken a limousine to WaWa.
I’m very disappointed that this happened (and that it continued to happen multiple times) without any thought of ethical responsibility or future consequences. But to those of you who are dramatizing this out of proportion, as well as those of you who are waving this away as a minor mistake which should be quickly forgotten, need to realize that this is not the kind of scandal which merits new divisions among the study body. Let’s bypass the petty bickering and deal with this in a mature, responsible, and respectable manner. Let the Honor Council do their job – that’s what they are there for. You don’t need to try and do it for them.
Steven Nelson,
Where did you come to the conclusion that this money was spent at Zach’s discretion for items such as food for the SA? This was money he used for himself. Even if part of it was for the SA, then we need to reevaluate what the SA buys for themselves. I didn’t think cigarettes was a necessity for meetings. Or trips to the movies for the entire group.