[1181] in Discussion of MIT-community interests
Re: Creighton/Brar ticket decision
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jesse Alejandro)
Thu Mar 14 11:39:15 2002
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Message-ID: <5.0.2.1.2.20020314024548.0226ce50@hesiod>
Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2002 02:46:48 -0500
From: Jesse Alejandro <jesse800@MIT.EDU>
To: MIT-Talk@MIT.EDU
In-Reply-To: <5.0.2.1.2.20020314021234.00a4f150@hesiod>
Sorry to spam but I just wanted to clarify that that was
Jesse Gutkowski and not me, Jesse Alejandro. I didn't want any confusions
after last elections problems.
At 02:16 AM 3/14/2002 -0500, Jesse Gutkowski wrote:
>Sorry to spam but...
>
>This is, to say the least a fault of the UA. If Rhett and Victor win,
>they will be the people's choice and that is democratic, contrary to your
>distorted views of democracy. If the UA wasn't such a crock of shit,
>perhaps this wouldn't be an issue at all. Personally, I believe that
>everyone should be asking for your resignation. If the UA is in fact a
>democracy, this would be the appropriate action. The UA is the failures
>in this situation, not Rhett or Victor. Do not punish someone for your
>faults. This is a disgrace, as is the $5000 discretionary fund that
>exists for the UA President.
>
>I urge everyone to continue to vote for the Creighton/Brar ticket and for
>the newspapers to tear apart this disgraceful attempt by the UA to
>maintain its pathetic norm. Vote Creighton/Brar and make a real
>difference in the way things work. I've never been more disappointed or
>disgusted in my three and half years here yet.
>
>Jesse
>
>
>At 01:41 AM 3/14/2002 -0500, Helen Lee wrote:
>>Hello everyone,
>>
>>There has been a lot of controversy about the UAP/UAVP elections this
>>year. As the UA Election Commissioner, I'd like to share some
>>clarifications as well as new information.
>>
>>The Election Commission has reviewed Dan Liston's communications to the
>>public and to Rhett and feels that they were inappropriate. I asked Dan to
>>resign from the Rules Board, and have recommended that Swapna Panuganti
>>replace
>> him as Chair of the Rules Board.
>>
>>We have also reviewed the issue at hand - the Creighton/Brar ticket
>>offering $10 to each person that places them first on the ballot. After
>>much discussion (which was not, alas, reflected in Dan's emails) the
>>Election Commission and Rules Board have come to a consensus that offering
>>bribes to students that vote for them is unethical and against the spirit
>>of the election rules and the UA Constitution. Regardless of where they
>>would obtain the money, they are using money to pay for votes all the same.
>>
>>As has been pointed out, there is no specific rule in the Election Code or
>>Campaign Rules that says that offering voters money for their vote is a
>>violation. Apparently at least this basic rule that should have been there
>>was neglected. However, the rules are only the minimal explicit set of
>>rules to guide the Commission and Rules Board and say so explicitly. When
>>we make decisions we are supposed to consider the spirit of the elections
>>as well as the published rules.
>>
>>The Commission and Rules Board believes that our central purpose is to
>>maintain the integrity of the election and the campaign. Allowing
>>candidates to offer bribes to voters seriously compromises this integrity
>>and is also obviously contrary to basic democratic principles.
>>
>>The decision of the Election Commission and Rules Board is that the
>>Creighton/Brar ticket, because of their public offers to bribe students for
>>their votes, are disqualified from the election. All votes for them will
>>be awarded to the next preferences chosen on each ballot.
>>
>>We have no official opinion on the appropriateness of using the Bush fund
>>for this or any other purpose.
>>
>>We have no official opinion on the appropriateness of promising a certain
>>amount of money to every undergraduate (a 'refund') regardless of how he or
>>she votes.
>>
>>I encourage everyone to think about this issue seriously and thank those
>>that have been doing so. I realize that we have made mistakes but we are
>>doing our best to remedy them.
>>
>>To Rhett and Victor - I know that the decision above is not stated in
>>official terms with citations and such. I apologize - I do not have
>>experience in writing such statements - but we felt it was important to
>>distribute this information quickly and clearly. If you would like to
>>appeal this decision, as I anticipate you will, please email the UA
>>Judicial Review Board (ua-judboard@mit.edu) with the details of your appeal.
>>
>>To everybody - if you would like to discuss previous emails from the
>>Election Commission or Rules Board, or this email, I urge you to speak to
>>me personally. My phone number is 617.256.8121 and I will be in the UA
>>office from 2:30-4pm tomorrow (Thursday). If neither of those works for
>>you, please email me and we can arrange a time to talk.
>>
>>Sincerely,
>>
>>Helen Lee
>>UA Election Commissioner
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