Administration
threatens suspension
By
Allison Baldwin
Online Forty-Niner
Editorial Assistant
After many students running for positions in Associated Students Inc. had their
campaign signs stolen or destroyed, the administration took a stronger stance
against destruction of student election campaign materials.
Vice presidential candidate Juancarlos Mariano said some of his signs were
kicked over while others were ripped from their stakes. Mariano said the destruction
of his signs was suspicious because his posters were in areas with lots of
campaign signs. He said his signs were defaced while other candidate’s
materials were left alone.
“
It is really upsetting to see such childish behavior,” Mariano said. “It
not only makes the individual look bad, but it makes the campus look bad.”
Mariano said defacing candidate’s signs shows a lack of character, and
he said he hopes someone gets caught. He estimated $25 worth of campaign materials
was destroyed by others, but the real loss was the effort he put into placing
his campaign materials. He said defacing a sign means a candidate has to take
time out of his or her day to repair the damage.
Presidential candidate Shefali Mistry said her posters near the Horn Center
and near the College of Business were missing as well. Mistry said the destruction
of campaign signs is costly because the signs are paid for out of the candidates’ pockets.
Elections Commissioner Courtney Ronald said candidates could help prevent theft
of their signs by not starting their campaigns so early.
The office of Vice President of Student Services Doug Robinson issued a memo
saying, “Individuals who are
apprehended, photographed or videotaped tampering with or removing campaign
posters, literature or ballot information for candidates or initiatives during
the upcoming student body elections or special referendums will be suspended
from the university.”
Anyone caught tampering with campus student newspapers and their racks will
face the same punishment.
“
Last year, administration didn’t do what they should have,” said
Mistry, who was on the elections reform committee after last year’s election. “It’s
good that the administration is stepping in.”
Ronald said there have always been rules regarding campaigning, but there has
to be evidence of a violation to these rules before a student can be punished.
She said students cannot post campaign signs on buildings or in classrooms
and must present samples of their campaign materials for approval.
She said students who are caught breaking the rules for campaigning are usually
punished for having committed a minor violation. Students who get written up
for a minor violation might lose their campaigning privileges, lose their $50
deposits, be required to attend a educational workshop, or have to write a
letter of apology. Students who receive multiple minor violations might be
written up for a major violation, which could result in disqualification for
the election.
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