In the wake of Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Tom Stafford’s decision to bring the current student body elections to an emphatic halt for the first time in N.C. State’s history, the reaction on campus is one of surprise, animosity and support. “That’s awesome — that’s really funny,” Scott Ingles, junior in political science, said when confronted with the news of the suspended elections.
His comments were in reference to the Elections Commission and Student Government’s reluctance to back down from Stafford’s orders.
“Good for them for standing up against the administration — they should keep doing it,” Ingles said.
He also noted that he doesn’t think the administration should have anything to do with the elections.
“[Student Government officials] are the ones entrusted to make those decisions,” he said. “The administration has already undermined Student Government enough.”
Ingles also pointed to the fact that the University’s administration and faculty already have enough power and responsibilities while Student Government has very little authority.
“The decision to let part-time students run for office should be the responsibility of the elections board,” he said.
Ingles is highly opposed to the actions of the administration and the way they have handled the situation, but he agrees that part-time students should not be allowed to run for office.
“Having a part-time student elected to office is like having a non-resident be your state’s senator,” he said.
Ingles also said that it is important to pay attention to the proposed referendum, which would clear up the language of the student body constitution regarding the eligibility of part-time students to run for Student Government positions.
“If the student body disagrees with the referendum — it would be reflected,” he said.
Ben Ipock, junior in textile and apparel management and former textile student senator, emphasized his frustration with student officials and their lack of respect for the administration’s decisions.
“You don’t bite the hand that feeds you,” he said. “The University is the hand that feeds student government.”
He explained that it was foolish for Student Government to blatantly ignore Stafford’s orders, especially after the consequences were stated and restated.
“The election system was shutdown due to direct defiance of an administrative order,” Ipock said. “How could the elections commission not expect this happen after Dr. Stafford said it would if an unapproved ballot was submitted?”
Ipock also expressed his concern for other student organizations and their relations with Stafford and the administration.
“With Dr. Stafford in charge of Student Affairs, the Elections Commission is hurting future relationships between Student Affairs and Student Government, student organizations, Greek Life and other affiliated groups by playing petty games and defying specific rules,” he said. “A consequence was given for submitting an unapproved ballot; the ballot was submitted and the consequence happened as stated.”
Ipock’s final qualm with the current situation is Student Government’s apparent lack of focus on students.
“Student Government, especially the Senate, needs to wake up and realize what they are doing and who it’s for — students or Student Government?” he said. “More focus needs to be given to students. Most students could care less about whether part-time students are in Student Government or allowed to run for it — I know I don’t.”
He also added that Student Senate is not the right “channel” to pursue in order to change University policies.
Marisa Arcilesi and Christina Anderson, both freshmen in textile and apparel management, expressed their sympathy for the candidates who put a lot of effort and money into their campaigns.
“I don’t think it’s right — not to the people who campaigned,” Arcilesi said.
Anderson echoed similar thoughts: “It’s not fair for the people who are working hard,” she said. “It’s a shame.”
They both agreed that part-time students should be allowed to run in the elections for the simple fact that people classified as “part-time” are still students.
Arcilesi also noted that “Student Government is really only important to the people who are in it.”
Students also voiced that there is a level of detachment and lack of communication between them and Student Government.
“I would like to hear [Student Government’s] reasons for putting part-time students on the ballot,” Reed Jackson, freshman in mechanical engineering, said. “I don’t know what Student Government does — I don’t keep up with it as much as I should and maybe if I saw a way to get involved — or even just heard about it — I would have done some research and paid more attention to the situation.”
He also said that there should be a joint effort between the University and Student Government to improve recruiting and outreach to students who might have some interest in student-elected positions.
“It is their responsibility to make Student Government more open for students to be involved,” Jackson said.
As far as part-time students and their eligibility to run for office are concerned, Jackson was adamant that they should be excluded from the ballot.
“If you are not going to be involved in school work full-time, how could you be involved in student affairs full-time?” he said.
Tony Caravano, part-time graduate student and former student body president for two terms met with familiar faces yesterday at an open meeting involving the administration and Student Government.
“This is important because it affects students who are running and have never been elected and students who want a change,” he said. “All parties involved may have lost sight of what this is about.”
Caravano stated that he wished the decision to postpone the elections wasn’t made late Sunday evening because all it generated was “irrational discussion.”
However, he said that he was glad to hear that Stafford offered a compromise to Student Government and the discussion between all parties involved yesterday was constructive.
“There were options put forth that were valid all-around,” he said.
Caravano offered what he would have done if there was a similar situation during his tenure as student body president.
“I would have gone to see Stafford up front in January and would have resolved this before the books closed,” he said.
He also included his personal opinion on the part-time student eligibility issue.
“The 7,000 part-time students at N.C. State should most definitely be allowed to vote,” he said. “Overall, I see the merits in not letting part-time students run for major offices — but they should be able to run for a senator position. For instance, I should be able to run for a graduate senator position, but not for student body president.”
On the other hand, Caravano made it clear that it is important to uphold the student body constitution.
He said “if it is illegal to disenfranchise any candidate” that he wouldn’t agree with the removal of part-time students from the ballot.
He also offered some advice to current Student Government officials.
“I wish Student Government would listen to [Student Body President] Whil Piavis because he is less emotionally charged,” Caravano said. “He is being rational and people aren’t listening.”
“This has to be resolved and made right,” he concluded.
Ipock attempted to put the situation in perspective.
“This is just college kids trying to play politics where they can’t,” he said.