Following my own advice, I sent out an e-mail to the Election Commission.  Here’s what they have to say for themselves:

The Election Commission decided to disqualify two tickets because each ticket had at least 2 flyering/posting violations.  We chose to uphold our decision because feel that it is only fair for all the candidates that chose to abide by the rules.  Also, it is not fair to the students who complained to the Election Commission about numerous quartersheets being stuffed under their doors.

The Election Commission is not trying to make a statement.  We are just trying to ensure a fair election process for all candidates and students.  We cannot just gloss over multiple violations by the candidates when those candidates were warned and told that a second violation would result in their disqualification.  Additionally, ALL candidates received an email (pasted below) reminding them of the flyering and posting rules and explaining to them the consequences for not abiding by these rules.

The Election Commission feels strongly that those aspiring to hold the highest student office at Georgetown University should be willing to take the time to read the University’s flyering/posting policies during the campaign period, especially when those policies were emailed to them.  The other tickets also had violations, but only the 2 that were disqualified had more than 1 violation each.

Additionally, the election bylaws state “In order to be elected, candidates must comply with all campaign regulations.”  Throughout our candidate info sessions and the email we sent out (below), we made it clear that abiding by and respecting the universities’ flyering/posting policies is a campaign regulation.

Best,
Sophia, Fred and Will
Election Commissioners

Click through for the e-mail they sent to candidates..

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SAC certainly set the bar high for angry late-night meeting antics on Monday, but GUSA proved that chaos and outrage aren’t exclusive to SAC at a three-ring circus of a meeting Wednesday night. In between talk about SafeRides and secret Santas, the discussion on SAC reform took on a life of its own and resulted in complete pandemonium.

After GUSA senators Matt Wagner (SFS `11), Tim Swenson (COL `10), and Tyler Stone (COL `09) spoke glowingly of SAC-GUSA relations and their hopes for more SAC transparency in the future, outspoken senator Nick Troiano (COL ‘11), last seen refusing to leave a closed SAC meeting, burst smashed their rose-colored glasses.

“I can’t believe the amount of spin you all have put on this,” Troiano said, referring to SAC’s amending of its constitution on Monday to make votes confidential and to allow the chair to select his or her own successor. “It seems like you’re posturing to be the next Secretary of State.”

After some more back and forth with thinly veiled insults flying in every direction, a metaphor comparing amending the SAC constitution to ending slavery in the U.S., and a muttered motion from Swenson to “end the Nick Troiano show,” all hell broke loose.

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As The Hoya reports, SAC passed an amendment to its constitution last night that officially gave its chairs a power that current SAC chair Sophia Behnia (COL `09) says they have had for years: the ability to independently a successor independent of outside (GUSA) review.

But what The Hoya doesn’t tell you is that the scene at SAC last night was utter chaos.

According to Voice reporter Alisha Crovetto, SAC carried out business-as-usual, hearing out clubs’ requests for funding and discussing the requests individually, until they brought the meeting to a vote. Members of SAC then asked everyone to leave the room (SAC members vote in privacy so their peers cannot individually call them out for their votes).

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The Student Activities Commission has shaken off GUSA’s checks on its power, so last week GUSA was trying to reassert one of those checks–its right to appoint SAC’s chairperson. Instead of the ad hoc system where the outgoing chair chooses their successor, the chair would be selected by some commissioners, GUSA members, and members of student groups.Everyone loved this idea, including the Voice’s Ed Board and SAC chair Sophia Behnia herself. But Monday night, in a mindblowing power grab, Behnia said JK to all that. Here’s the way Behnia says it’s actually going to be:

• The new SAC chairperson will be appointed by the outgoing one, not GUSA.
• Votes are now secret! Non-commissioners who attend SAC meetings will have to leave before votes.
• SAC no longer will tell GUSA what happens at its meetings.

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