NEWS
Illegal campaigning accusations fly
Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.
Also by Cassie Kornblau:
- Legislator looks out for taxpayers (December 11, 2007)
- Added cost of studying abroad (December 10, 2007)
- Representative brings 'traditionalist' view to college (December 7, 2007)
- When hate disrupts the classroom (December 6, 2007)
Related Stories:
- ASM election results require confirmation (October 18, 2004)
- News rules set for referendums (April 19, 2006)
- Judiciary debates election issue (March 8, 2006)
- Feedback after ASM election varies (October 20, 2006)
- ASM says students not eligible to run (November 7, 2001)
by Cassie Kornblau
Friday, November 3, 2006
The University of Wisconsin Associated Students of Madison Student Judiciary heard a case Thursday regarding accusations of illegal campaigning in recent ASM Student Council elections.
Leah Moe, chair of the Student Election Commission, argued that Bryon Eagon, who ran for a freshman seat on the ASM Student Council this semester, campaigned illegally by distributing campaign materials in Chadbourne Residential College.
Eagon argued that he did not violate any ASM campaign regulations because the ASM Constitution prohibits candidates from soliciting door to door and using mailboxes, telephones and technology to campaign, none of which he practiced.
"After receiving a flyer under my door from an opponent, I went to check the rules and found this to be not allowed," Eagon said. "But distributing leaflets in the cafeteria is not in violation because it did not occur with the use of mailboxes, telephones or technology to promote my campaign."
However, Moe said Eagon should have been familiar with the policy because he signed a student declaration form and attended the information session where the campaign rules were defined for the candidates.
"Eagon signed the agreement and should be responsible," Moe said. "Ignorance of the law is no excuse."
Eagon admitted to distributing leaflets in the cafeteria one morning, but said that is not the reason students voted him into ASM.
"I did not create an unfair advantage," Eagon said, "I did this by creating a network of supporters, going to candidate debates and standing outside in the rain encouraging people to go vote."
Yet Moe argued that Eagon still violated the university solicit policy and that he should receive some type of punishment, even if the punishment doesn't include forcing him to give up his seat.
And though Eagon's campaign materials were distributed briefly around 8 a.m., many students may have seen them, and Moe said that violated ASM policy.
SJ said it plans to announce the verdict within the next two weeks.
SEC is also involved in two other cases before SJ regarding the ASM elections. A case calling for the Student Union Initiative to be annulled will be heard Monday, and a case calling for the entire ASM elections to be recalled will be heard Wednesday.
Anonymous (November 3, 2006 @ 3:47am):
Moe, you lost - go find something better to do with yourself. Seriously. Everybody knows that ASM does't count, and that after you leave college you will work a miserable job like the rest of the world. The point is Eagon won, and if you want to keep playing this game you are only goint to continue running your institution - ASM - into the ground.
Anonymous (November 3, 2006 @ 3:54am):
Does grasping for power by running a newly elected freshman representative make you feel good Moe? From what I see, you are running your organization further into the ground over your petty game. If you are truly concerned about making a positive change on this campus, use your power -- or self-concieved power -- to make sure more than 6% of the student population votes in your elections. Frankly I'm glad Eagon decided to even run given the sh*tty way anybody who generally tries to is. He predicted this would happen in some way ... and it did.... This better be made better quickly, because I know the liberals will attack even harder ...
