The following is the lede of a Technician story published Friday morning:

“On Thursday Student Body President Jackie Gonzalez appointed Anderson Shumate, a graduate student studying international studies and Gonzalez’s current romantic partner, for the vacated position of Chair of the Board of Elections through an executive order.”

Ummm… what?

To preface, I have no qualms with Shumate’s character or qualifications. Having sat beside him in a history course last year, I can attest to him being intelligent and more than capable of serving in any capacity for the students at NC State. I do, however, have qualms with the nepotism involved in the appointment.

“I did not believe it is conflict of interest because for it to be a conflict of interest I feel like I would have to benefit from this in some way and I do not and he was a viable candidate,” Gonzalez said.

What Gonzalez fails to recognize is that she does not have to benefit from Shumate serving in  such a position for the conflict of interest to exist. Shumate might be the most qualified person for the position, but that should play second fiddle to his relationship with the student body president. In this scenario, Shumate is benefitting from being in a long-term relationship with the person selecting him to such a position. That is a conflict.

The position also receives a $700 stipend, coming 100 percent from student fees. This stipend is a first-time addition to the 2017-2018 Student Government budget, which passed on Mar. 15, 2017, two weeks following Gonzalez’ election.

Then-Senator Gonzalez voted yes on said budget. That is also a conflict.

During confirmation hearings last year for Shumate’s confirmation to the Board of Elections as a voting member, discussion was had about impartiality due to mumbles amongst Student Government that Gonzalez would be running for the office she now holds. I know of such chatter because I was the chair of the committee who confirmed Shumate originally.

The idea persisted that such an individual would be unable to remain objective if his partner were to be summoned for a violation hearing, and while there is no specific evidence to say whether that was the case or not, the very essence of such conversations being had last year should cast a shade of doubt on the ethics of such a confirmation now.

But Gonzalez isn’t running for office again, so it’s okay, right?

No.

In her document summarizing the appointments process, Gonzalez said her decision came down to three people, and her final choice to select Shumate was rooted in that she knew Shumate truly “understands and appreciates the work that is done by the board.”

Further, Gonzalez says that she felt that choosing one of the other individuals being considered would be seen as a favor for her. So, in order to eliminate the notion of favors being dealt out like cards at a poker tournament, Gonzalez chose her partner.

Having two years of experience serving as a student senator, I am reminded of the hours long debate held just last year over whether the Student Senate President Jamie Plummer conducted her senate appointment process in a fair and ethical way. That decision came down to a one-vote difference, and many of the senators in the room then are serving in some capacity within Student Government this year as well.

Adding a kicker to these proceedings, Gonzalez made her appointment of Shumate by an executive order, which was correct for the process, due to rules set in the Student Body Constitution. This bears the weight of not having the individual confirmed by the Senate, eliminating checks and balances barring a two-thirds majority vote at the next Senate meeting to overturn such an order.

It would be remiss of the Senate to not give such process consideration, out of fairness and respect for the integrity of the offices of both Student Body President and Board of Elections Chair.

Student Government, which has found itself in a crisis of public opinion in the previous years, would only find itself even deeper in its House of Cards roleplay by turning such a blind eye to a decision so deeply tarnished by a stain of an ethics breach.

If this is business as usual, then so be it. But if that’s the case, then the business is truly beyond repair.

Luke Perrin is a third-year studying political science, a  former member of Technician’s editorial board and former member of the Student Senate.