Ransom banned from campaigning (updated noon)

The elections committee found presidential candidate Zach Ransom and his slate mates Joe… The elections committee found presidential candidate Zach Ransom and his slate mates Joe Leinbach and Jen Anukem guilty of violating elections code rules against solicitation.

The candidates must surrender their $100 deposits and are forbidden from campaigning today, according to a release from elections chair Greg Heller -LaBelle. Proven slate campaign managers Lauren Harris and Jim Wright, along with Ransom’s brother, Austin, are also prohibited to campaign.

Heller LaBelle’s statement defines campaigning as wearing promotional T-shirts, handing out flyers or hanging posters on campus, shaking hands, introducing oneself as a candidate, and “any active promotion of any candidate in the election.”

None of the guilty party will be permitted to attend the event tonight when election results will be announced, whether they win or lose.

According to Heller-LaBelle’s statement, the elections committee will automatically disqualify the candidates if they violate any of the sanctions. Zach Ransom was unavailable for comment, but he does have 48 hours to appeal the decision to the Judicial Board.

Voting ends at 9 p.m.

For more information on last night’s hearing, click the link below to the initial story about the charges. Check www.pittnews.com later today for ongoing coverage, including updates on the appeals process.