The Associated Students of Diablo Valley College addressed issues surrounding the controversial comments made on the ASDVC Facebook page about the recent election results at their April 14 meeting.

Current President Kevin Tian addressed the negative comments posted, and said he was upset by what he saw. He then asked members who removed the comments from the Facebook page the following day after they were posted.  To everyone’s dismay, no one admitted to the act.

“I feel extremely miserable and uncomfortable with Facebook page being filled with criticism, sarcasm, malicious invectives and insults to one another,” he said. “I feel even worse that those conversations may as well have cast a shadow on ASDVC as a whole.”

Inter-Club Council Chair and Inquirer Senior staff member Keith Montes, who was accused of being racist when he commented that the election results were influenced by international student membership, posted demographics and statistics of ASDVC members in order to help his appeal.

“It’s not racist to point out reality,” Montes said. “To bring attention to the disproportional amount of international student membership of the ASDVC board is not a bad thing.”

Chris Knight, 25, a former ASDVC board member and a friend of Montes spoke on Montes’ behalf.

“I want you to take a good look at me,” Knight said, dressed in a medieval pirate costume. “Does it look like I have a deal with anybody who displays any type of intolerance? I don’t think so. These accusations about Keith being racist: complete BS.”

He went on to mention that Montes’ coalition was a diverse team and he had no issues working with them.

Attendees appeared to grow restless when the topic was brought up again, and the majority of the students motioned to not have Montes speak to his defense after a few more pointed comments from students. Instead, they motioned to move on to other topics of discussion.

In order to calm the tense situation, controller Virginie Poetry, 20, said, “I feel that those who didn’t win the election are also winners. We are here to learn how to be the bigger person.”

To further remove tensions, Tian reminded his peers that they are all a part of ASDVC for the same reasons.

“There is only ‘us’ in this enthusiastic and passionate group,” he said. “Where everyone works in a team and overcome barriers and obstacles, where everyone has a same belief to advocate for our students regardless of our identity, our background, our skin color and our academic interests.”