Associated Student Inc. (ASI) has voted not to suspend Horace Montgomery, leadership development coordinator, after an August 24 shoving and shouting match with President Chris Jackson. The vote was seven to three with five abstaining.

According to police report, Jackson followed Montgomery to his office after a disagreement about meeting minutes. Jackson shouted at Montgomery threatening to have him fired. Once at Montgomery’s office, Jackson tried to stop Montgomery from going in at which time, Montgomery shoved him aside, locked the door and called his superiors.

Three weeks later, on September 14, the personnel committee made the recommendation to suspend Montgomery for the fall semester. According to an anonymous source, another recommendation made was to withhold one month’s pay from Jackson. Both recommendations were voted down simultaneously.

“It’s an unfortunate incident,” said Peter Koo, executive director for ASI. Koo added that he did not agree with the recommendation made by the personnel committee.

ASI currently has no policies to address internal conflicts between board and staff members. Aside from the vote made by the board, no other disciplinary action has been taking against Jackson or Montgomery to date.

Both Jackson and Montgomery made no comment about the incident citing legal ramifications.

Montgomery has been on staff with ASI since January 2003. Prior to that, he served on the board as ethnic rep and then vice president of external affairs. Montgomery’s responsibilities include running the summer training programs for incoming board members and advising them on day-to-day aspects of being on the board.