The Elections Commission met Tuesday night to vote on the directive put forth by Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Tom Stafford regarding student body elections and the ability of part-time students to run for office.
In a reluctant regression from their original stance, the Elections Commission approved the exclusion of part-time students Scott Stephenson, candidate for student body president, and Tracy Hutcherson, four-year senator and repeat candidate for a CALS senior Senate seat.
The Commission also confirmed April 3 and 4 as the new election dates.
The Elections Commission Chair Kevin Hassell said, due to time constraints, the group was forced to make this decision and had no other option in the effort to ensure elections “can move on.”
In a statement the commission released last night, they wrote they were “under direct orders from the University,” and those orders “explicitly defy constitutionally sound student body statutes, undermine student self-governance, restrict long-held student rights, and [are] prosecuted by threats of continued strong-arm tactics.”
According to commission officials, “Part time students will remain eligible to vote and the referendum will remain on the ballot.”
Brian Godfrey, an elections commissioner, vocalized the thoughts of the distraught commission.
“We don’t want to do this,” he said.
The meeting garnered few students unaffiliated with Student Government, but Hutcherson emphasized to the commission that he is not wholly ineligible to represent students.
“As I have been removed from the ballot by Dr. Stafford, it would be nice for you to reflect the fact that it does not deny me the right to run in other elections,” he said.
The meeting then turned to the issue of Stafford providing $50 to each student running for major positions to continue their campaigns for an additional week.
Hutcherson asked the commission to get a written statement from Stafford confirming the money he delegated came from his own pocket and has no link to the University.
“As a student senator, I would ask that the commission thoroughly investigate where the original money came from,” he said.
Erich Fabricius, a graduate senator, yelled “blood money” from the back of the room, during the discussion.
The commission denied Hutcherson’s request because some members felt although it was a valid suggestion — it was not their job to carry out.
The meeting concluded with a noted feeling of disgust and frustration among the commission, but the stage is set: elections will commence on Monday and Tuesday in the absence of part-time students on the ballot.
