After allegations that Dion Smith, Campus Activities Board president and Student Association senator, is involved in a conflict of interest, Smith is fighting back.

In a column published Monday, a Northern Star opinion columnist maligned Smith.

Smith’s integrity has come into question perhaps because he is spearheading legislation to create greater accountability from SA employees paid from student funds, but has potential, as a senator, to vote on legislation that would pay his own salary.

“He is very conscious of his position in both organizations, and he tries to be aware of the perception of being involved in both,” Becky Harlow, CAB’s adviser, said. “[Smith] takes extra length to abstain where he sees a conflict of interest.”

Smith, appointed to the SA finance committee by Speaker Rob Batey, is paid in his CAB position from SA funds. During fiscal year 2006, Smith was paid $3,799.60 as president of CAB, according to records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.

At the March 4 SA meeting, which considered SA director pay reform, an additional $45,500 was allocated to CAB. Smith was one of the few abstentions in voting on the bill.

“I’ve been on [the SA] since before I became a part of CAB,” Smith said.

Smith is not the first crossover between the SA senate and CAB. Adam Novotney, current SA president, previously served as vice president of finance during his term as a SA senator. Four paid CAB executives currently hold seats in the SA senate: Colleen Murphy, vice president of administration; Ricardo Garcia, vice president of finance; Quentin Frison, assistant vice president for concepts and designs; and Samuel Davis, assistant vice president for Unity in Diversity. Together, the five control one-sixth of the senate’s votes.

Smith said he makes it his duty to know when his position in any organization becomes a conflict of interest.

“I have never voted on any bill concerning any organization I have been a part of or been affiliated with,” Smith said.

Smith’s devotion to preventing a conflict of interest may not extend to all CAB senators, as Smith was the only CAB senator whom senator Josh Alvarado noticed abstained during the CAB funding legislation vote.

“I don’t think they should be voting on CAB, but they should still be members of senate,” said Senator John Rauch.

Other members of the senate may have a more negative attitude.

“On the one hand, you are getting paid for working in CAB. So, you are not going to be neutral because there’s a lot of interests at stake. So, on the other hand, you are going to be biased toward any resolutions directed at CAB,” Alvarado said.

Alvarado admired Smith’s efforts, but found it deeply troubling that other CAB senators did not follow his lead.

“That’s where a problem comes in,” Alvarado said.