Editor’s Note: This articles has been modified since it went to press.
Student Body President campaigns officially began Tuesday at noon, and within the first afternoon of electioneering, all three candidates violated campaign statutes, according to Student Government Elections Commissioner Victoria Melbourne.
Candidate Lauren Collier, current Union Activities Board president, failed to file expense report that was due on Monday on time, according to the Elections Commission. Candidate Matthew Williams, chair of the Traditions Committee, used Student Government resources — a campaign button maker — without permission. Dwayne O’Rear, a former football player, also filed a late expense report. O’Rear was accused of fraudulently using the website source code from the 2012 campaign of current SBP Andy Walsh, and after appealing this concern to the commission, the alleged violation is currently pending.
Melbourne prides herself on taking these violations seriously. Due to slack regulation in the past, Melbourne said she and the nine others on the election commission have been keen to report any violations.
“I’m serious about this,” Melbourne said. “In the past, people got away with things they shouldn’t have.”
Melbourne’s claims come with backing: The Election Commission will disqualify any candidate who accrues three campaign violations. O’Rear already has two, and elections don’t end until March 27 at noon.
After weak regulation of campaigning, the Election Commission has enacted changes in Student Government statute enforcement. Melbourne said the zones where students can display campaign signs is smaller this year, after a 2012 candidate caused thousands of dollars in damages after splitting an underground electric wire on Centennial Campus.
Other violations include “dorm storming,” the act of distributing excessive amounts of campaign literature around residence halls and going door-to-door soliciting votes, and all candidates must ask permission from University Housing to campaign in residence halls.
Student Government can no longer fine candidates for campaign violations, as it did in the past.
“As a state school, we cannot accept their money,” Melbourne said. “It’s illegal. I’m not sure how much money was fined in the past, but there are some students who are rallying to get their money back.”
If you see any violations, you can report them to the Elections Commission at ncsuelectionscommission@gmail.com, which Melbourne highly encourages.
“It’s just me and my colleagues on the commission who are really looking out, though campaigners report violations by their competitors, too,” Melbourne said. “When we get complaints, we need actual proof to adjudicate the problem.”
Technician reported Dwayne O’Rear stole the source code from a former candidate’s website. At the time of original publication, O’Rear had not appealed this concern, and the alleged violation is being investigated. The violation is currently pending. Continue following Technician for ongoing coverage into elections.
