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ASCSU election results challenged
Charging 'gross violations', student seeks new election
J. David McSwane
Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: News
"I don't think there's much weight behind it," Smoot said late Tuesday. "(Local band Modus) played for us for free. We gave (the elections committee) all the evidence, and they determined it to be legit."
Modec says the Elections Committee also violated the ASCSU Constitution by failing to notify the Supreme Court for ratification of the special rule made for Smoot and Girrens, and for conducting the meeting behind closed doors. Article I, Section 108 of the ASCSU Constitution requires that "all ASCSU committees shall be open to the public," except in the case of personnel or ongoing legal matters.
But the document was later leaked to the Collegian.
"It became public information the moment I gave it to Cari," said Modec , Stepsay's predecessor as chief justice. "They shouldn't be able to tell you it's private."
And despite explicit ASCSU bylaws that prohibit closed door meetings, the Supreme Court plans to meet in private at 5:30 p.m. today to review the appeal.
Stepstay is required to give public notice and organize a public meeting to review the appeals and any counter appeals, according to ASCSU elections code.
Amid the new election process controversy, Smoot and his former contenders say they want to move on and that launching a new election and new campaigns would take a toll on campus and their health.
"That would make me sick to my stomach," Smoot said. "We won by a record landslide, and we're sick of campaigning … what do we have to do? Have a new election? … (Modec's) just throwing a wrench in the whole system."
"(The appeal's) not even directed at us; it's directed at the election process," he added.
Zane Guilfoyle and Seth Walter, who lost their bid for the ASCSU president and vice president to Smoot and Girrens in the four-way contest, say Tuesday's appeal leaves them asking if they could even handle another election.
"Emotionally, physically and psychologically, I don't think I could put myself through that again," Walter said. "It's an interesting quagmire."
Smoot, who is set to be sworn in as president June 1, is effectively a lame-duck president-elect until the ASCSU Supreme Court rules on the issue, Modec said.
And an empty seat in the role of president and vice president of ASCSU would severely inhibit student input in the student fee and tuition review process, Smoot said.
"Until further notice, I'm doing my job," Smoot said. "Business as usual."
Elections Manager Laue and Chief Justice Stepstay declined comment.
Editor-in-Chief J. David McSwane can be reached at editor@collegian.com.
Modec says the Elections Committee also violated the ASCSU Constitution by failing to notify the Supreme Court for ratification of the special rule made for Smoot and Girrens, and for conducting the meeting behind closed doors. Article I, Section 108 of the ASCSU Constitution requires that "all ASCSU committees shall be open to the public," except in the case of personnel or ongoing legal matters.
But the document was later leaked to the Collegian.
"It became public information the moment I gave it to Cari," said Modec , Stepsay's predecessor as chief justice. "They shouldn't be able to tell you it's private."
And despite explicit ASCSU bylaws that prohibit closed door meetings, the Supreme Court plans to meet in private at 5:30 p.m. today to review the appeal.
Stepstay is required to give public notice and organize a public meeting to review the appeals and any counter appeals, according to ASCSU elections code.
Amid the new election process controversy, Smoot and his former contenders say they want to move on and that launching a new election and new campaigns would take a toll on campus and their health.
"That would make me sick to my stomach," Smoot said. "We won by a record landslide, and we're sick of campaigning … what do we have to do? Have a new election? … (Modec's) just throwing a wrench in the whole system."
"(The appeal's) not even directed at us; it's directed at the election process," he added.
Zane Guilfoyle and Seth Walter, who lost their bid for the ASCSU president and vice president to Smoot and Girrens in the four-way contest, say Tuesday's appeal leaves them asking if they could even handle another election.
"Emotionally, physically and psychologically, I don't think I could put myself through that again," Walter said. "It's an interesting quagmire."
Smoot, who is set to be sworn in as president June 1, is effectively a lame-duck president-elect until the ASCSU Supreme Court rules on the issue, Modec said.
And an empty seat in the role of president and vice president of ASCSU would severely inhibit student input in the student fee and tuition review process, Smoot said.
"Until further notice, I'm doing my job," Smoot said. "Business as usual."
Elections Manager Laue and Chief Justice Stepstay declined comment.
Editor-in-Chief J. David McSwane can be reached at editor@collegian.com.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 7
Told You So
posted 4/16/08 @ 1:46 AM MST
Tired of campaigning Taylor? What kind of representative are you? If you truly cared about us, our voices...if you truly cared about the things you BSed your way through for three weeks. (Continued…)
James
posted 4/16/08 @ 10:38 AM MST
If we get the onion on campus, then who is going to read my Ramtalks?!
WOW
posted 4/16/08 @ 11:48 AM MST
and you all have to remember the $9 is just the ASCSU proposed increase and does not account for the other fee areas that might ask for an increase so overall the fees could dramatically increase. (Continued…)
Great Job!
posted 4/16/08 @ 12:23 PM MST
I can't wait to see Stepsay try to go toe-to-toe with Modec:) That'd be brutal, guy knows the Constitution like no one else. Time to sweep the incompetence under the rug and move on to the fee increases, mmkay? Go ASCSU!
I dont care
posted 4/16/08 @ 2:00 PM MST
Never have been interested in ASCSU, nothing against those who are, the only thing that i really have to say is that anything is better then the joke known as Jared Quintana. (Continued…)
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