Ranade shadowed by past mistakes

Allegations of drinking on campus and department-store vandalism still haunt the political career of newly appointed Student Regent Amit Ranade.

In October 1997, Ranade resigned from his position as Washington Student Lobby President following allegations of alcohol consumption on the job. He admitted to having and consuming alcohol during a meeting held in the HUB, without the necessary liquor license.

At the time of his resignation, it also became public that Ranade had pled guilty to vandalizing a Wenatchee J. C. Penney department store a year before. On May 4, 1996, he and several friends threw metal off the roof of the department store. The police report, according to a 1997 article in The Daily, said all four people caught were intoxicated. Ranade pled guilty to the charges from that night.

Since Ranade's appointment by Gov. Gary Locke last Friday, several involved in the UW community, including student government, have expressed their doubts about whether he is capable of doing his job, considering his past record.

Stephanie Simpson, one of three original student regent finalists, said she thought drinking and conviction records should not be in the background of someone assuming the title.

"I think the Board of Regents position should be an ideal UW leader. It means that you respect people. It means that you don't drink, it means that you are a role model," Simpson said.

Ranade feels he is still qualified to speak on behalf of the student body, since the incidents happened so long ago.

"That was a whole other time," Ranade said. "It was a colorful time on campus back then. It was a long time ago. I made a mistake."

Despite the doubts of Simpson and others, past and current ASUW officers see Ranade as a valid and positive choice for student regent.

"Everybody is entitled to make mistakes in their past and move on from them," said ASUW President Jasmin Weaver, who oversaw the appointment process.

Megan Dosher, who served on the Board of Control (BOC, now called the Board of Directors) in 1997, when Ranade resigned, said his drinking is obviously not an issue anymore.

"That was what, three years ago? He's had professional jobs since then. I think that if the committee feels he's good enough for the job, then I agree with them," Dosher said.

Another former BOC member, now first-year medical student Justin Gatewood, said he hardly even remembered his days with the ASUW.

"It's all kind of vague," Gatewood said.

He did say he remembered the Ranade scandal.

"At the time, I don't think I would have invested a lot in him," Gatewood said. "He's a brilliant guy, but he was a kid then -- who knows? Some people change, and some people don't."

Ranade's record, a major issue in the past, was not a focus of the appointment procedure, according to Weaver.

Weaver said the applications to the governor's office required a listing and explanation of any criminal convictions, and that the governor's office does know of Ranade's record.

She added that, although all deliberations regarding the regent finalist selections were confidential, procedural rules prohibited discussion of Ranade's record at that stage.

Rules of the Student Regent Selection Committee state it may only discuss application information and subjects brought up in interviews. Since the first stage of applications in the student regent selection does not include criminal records, and the past issues did not come up in the interview, the subject was off-limits.

"Had anybody brought it up, it would have been against the rules," Weaver said.

Some of those upset over Ranade's drinking in the past were also concerned about his work for Locke's 2000 campaign manager Delee Shoemaker. Shoemaker was allegedly listed as sponsor on Ranade's application, although Ranade doesn't remember for certain.

Ranade's connections in Olympia may have aided his appointment by Locke, sources have speculated.

Although his contacts at Locke's office were a positive point on his resume, Ranade does not believe they were the reason he was appointed to the position.

"I did work on the governor's campaign, and it's because I believe in the governor," Ranade said. "To my knowledge, it wasn't a factor [in the decision] at all."

Ranade added that his work on the governor's campaign was not as a major staff member, but involved waving signs and making phone calls. "I didn't do anything out of the ordinary," Ranade said.