February 10, 2009 News

$25,000 extortion attempt denied

Claim is ‘outrageous,’ says CSU VP communications

by Terrine Friday

Former Concordia Student Union executive, councillor and advisor Steven Rosenshein has been formally accused of trying to extort $25,000 from the CSU's former health care administrator, Lev Bukhman, an allegation which the CSU executive says is false.

Bukhman, Faculty of Arts advisor of McGill University and president of the Quebec Student Health Alliance—or ASEQ—claims Rosenshein “asked me for a $25,000 contribution to finance the election campaign for ‘his team’ in the upcoming election,” according to a sworn affidavit dated May 26, 2008.

According to the sworn statement of Bukhman—who’s also a lawyer—this conversation took place “on the evening of March 6, 2008,” immediately following the guest lecture of American civil rights leader Al Sharpton.

“I was shocked and stunned,” the affidavit continued. “I clearly understood that Mr. Rosenshein was asking me to pay a $25,000 contribution to his CSU election slate, and making a clear threat that if I did not pay the contribution ASEQ’s business relationship with the CSU would be under threat. It was clear that what he was asking me for was unethical and likely illegal, to say the least.”

Rosenshien allegedly requested the money because “the ‘opposition’ had been traditionally backed by ‘15 or 20’ thousand dollars from the ‘Muslim students associations’, and that the Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) basically [ran] its own printing press for elections,’” according to the document.

The CSU ended up signing a contract with ASEQ’s competitor, Morneau Sobeco. The contract also included an agreement with the National Student Health Network, the health care provider of the Canadian Federation of Students-Rosenshein’s current employer.

Although the contract is signed by CSU President Keyana Kashfi and is dated Dec. 11, Kashfi reported to Council at their last meeting on Jan. 14 that they were still in the negotiation process.

Elie Chivi, VP communications of the CSU, said the contract is fair game and simply shows a change in healthcare administrator.

“We don’t have a health plan yet,” Chivi said. “We’re going to tender for the best deal we can get.”

The problem, Chivi said, is Bukhman’s own negligence in tendering for a student health plan.

According to a statement released by the CSU, “Concordia students lost out on a savings of nearly $250,000 last year due to the actions of Mr. Bukhman and his firm.” Both Kashfi and Chivi deny their association with Rosenshein.

“We’re very independent of Mr. Rosenshein,” Chivi continued. “[The current executive is] here as an independent body and aren’t swayed by people that were here before us.”

Chivi also said the $25,000 extortion claim “is outrageous,” and it’s likely Bukhman was more interested in his own expenses.

“I can see how someone who’s about to possibly lose a lot of money would make those accusations,” Chivi said.

According to Bukhman, the extortion happened before any mention of switching health care administrators.

“When this incident happened with Mr. Rosenshein, it was brought to the CSU long before I’d even met Keyana Kashfi,” Bukhman said, “and my affidavit was signed before she took office and before I ever met her.”

Bukhman claims former CSU president Angelica Novoa’s reaction to the extortion last March was “shocked, but not surprised.”

In the final 2007-08 Council meeting held May 14, 2008, Novoa had produced documentation that then-councillor Rosenshein was filling his post illegally-but only after a disagreement regarding the CSU’s health and dental negotiations occured.

Former councillor Matthew Forget thought Novoa’s newfound awakening was just a red herring, especially since the issue was brought to Novoa on several occasions. The real dispute, Forget said, was behind the health and dental negotiations, which were up for renewal.

“It just doesn’t add up,” Forget continued.

In light of an incoming 2008-09 CSU executive, Bukhman claims he tried to communicate with Kashfi about the monetary demand—but Kashfi took no action.

“It’s kind of hard to complain to Nixon about Watergate,” Bukhman said.

Bukhman says he’s not happy about the current situation and speaking publicly wasn’t his first avenue, especially since Concordia is one of ASEQ’s founding members. The other is McGill University.

“Blowing the whistle like this is something we do with a very heavy heart. It’s not fun when you become the target of a lot of mud throwing,” Bukhman said.

Bukhman requested the university’s administration take control of the situation. President Judith Woodsworth declined to comment.

Rosenshein and Novoa did not return The Link’s phone calls for comment.