Judicial committee reduces Ransom’s punishment, upholds campaigning ban(updated 6 p.m.)

By JESSICA LEAR

In a Student Government judicial hearing today, members of the judicial committee voted to… In a Student Government judicial hearing today, members of the judicial committee voted to reduce the election committee’s sanctions against the Proven slate.

The six-person committee voted unanimously to uphold the ban on campaigning today, but overturned the elections committee’s decision to withhold candidates’ $100 deposits and ban them from the event where the election results will be announced.

The elections committee ruled last night that Zach Ransom, slate mates Jen Anukem and Joe Leinbach, campaign managers Lauren Harris and Jim Wright, and Ransom’s brother, Austin, were guilty of violating the elections code rules against solicitation.

Judicial Chair Leslie Luzhansky explained that the judicial committee thought the election committee’s decision was “too extreme and somewhat unreasonable.”

They upheld the sanction against campaigning today because it “matched the crime.” Since the candidates broke a rule limiting their campaigning, their punishment would be a restriction on campaigning.

“You took extra. Well, now you’re going to lose [a chance to campaign],” Luzhansky said.

To read more about last night’s hearing and the charges against the Proven slate, click the links below. Check The Pitt News tomorrow for election results.