Election issues not dead

In the second-to-last 2004 Student Government Board meeting, two board members made… In the second-to-last 2004 Student Government Board meeting, two board members made unsuccessful proposals to delay the inauguration of the recently elected 2005 board.

The meeting appeared to be moving along normally when board member Charis Jones surprised many of her boardmates with the initial proposal, which called on the board to delay the inauguration indefinitely.

Jones suggested that the new board not take office until each person involved in a series of complaints filed to the Elections and Judicial Committees issues a written statement saying that he or she is satisfied with the results.

SGB member Lauren Evette Williams also proposed delaying the inauguration. She suggested delaying it one week in order to give all parties involved more time.

Shortly after Williams’ proposal, SGB President Brian Kelly, who had spent the last few minutes feverishly writing notes, passed his power to President Pro-tempore Amit Kotz, earning Kelly the privileges of voting and joining in the debate.

“I’m sorry. You can’t always win,” he said, speaking on behalf of the 2005 board. He suggested that those involved in the matter were attempting to disenfranchise the nearly 2,300 students who turned out to vote in the SGB election.

Kelly went on to express his complete faith in the committees involved and in their chairs. He added that the hearings were kept on tape, so if any wrongdoing by the Elections Committee had occurred, they would know of it.

“I may be overreacting now,” Kelly said, his growing frustration quite apparent. “But it’s appalling.”

One day earlier, the Judicial Committee heard complaints filed by student K. Chase Patterson, and the 2005 SGB met for their first informal meeting.

When Jones made her initial movement during the Thursday night meeting, she said the last few weeks had taken a toll on her.

“I have been personally, emotionally, academically affected by this election,” she said. “What has happened is an injustice.”

Jones said that while some people, such as Kelly, have suggested that the SGB campaign became racial, neither she nor Williams — who serves as BAS president — told anyone to base a vote on racial issues.

Other board members did not agree with Jones and Williams about continuing to address the election issue.

Board member Joe Pasqualichio said, “I’ve run out of time to waste on this issue.”

As the first proposal came to a vote, Jones continued to voice her frustration with the entire SGB office.

“My spirit,” she said, “it just can’t handle being in here.”

Jones, Williams and Todd Brandon Morris voted in favor of Jones’ proposed indefinite inauguration delay.

Board members Liz Blasi, Matt Hutchinson and Pasqualichio voted against it, while Amit Kotz and Joe Salvatore abstained from the vote.

Kelly broke the tie and voted against the movement.

Just when some board members seemed to believe that the debate had ended, Williams made her proposal, causing Kelly to pass his power to Kotz. Shortly thereafter, Williams called her proposal to a vote. The voting lines remained the same, except that Kelly could now vote and Kotz could not.

Patterson spoke briefly during an open-floor portion of the meeting. He said he has contacted Vice Provost of Undergraduate Studies and Dean of Students Jack Daniel and Director of Student Life Kenyon Bonner, and he went on to warn that no one elected to the 2005 board — including BAS-endorsed Monica Higgins and Dilinus Harris — should assume his or her position is safe yet.

“Rules are rules,” Patterson added, explaining why he would continue his fight. “A lie is a lie, regardless of the effect.”

Morris refrained from comment because he did not want to appear to be a “sore loser.” He did, however, encourage the board members to speak to one another in a more professional, adult manner.