ASUSUEC race may spawn future problems
An e-mail questioning a candidate’s morality, sent to many students earlier this week, has the university concerned about what actions to take.
Former Campus Diversity and Organizations Vice President candidate Rusty Rigby became aware of the e-mail in question three hours too late, but says a grievance couldn’t have been filed against his opponet, Josh Wood, anyway.
“As far as the e-mail goes, it can be considered libelous, it can be considered invading personal privacy,” Rigby said.
Disturbed by the content of the e-mail, Tiffany Evans, Associated Students of Utah State University adviser, said a grievance was not filed during the ASUSU election process and in relation to “student government elections, the issue is closed.”
“In everything we do as an institution and in student involvement we try to promote civility and respect,” Evans said. “There is great concern and it is being taken very serious, and again, I hope we are a campus where mutual respect and civility are our principles.”
The e-mail, questioning Rigby’s qualifications based on his sexual orientation, began circulating through supporters of Wood, ASUSU campus diversity and organizations vice president-elect, Rigby said. However, there is no found connection between the e-mail and Wood.
“Unless there is an established connection, there can be nothing done as far as the election goes,” Rigby said.
The e-mail passed through several campus organizations, originating from USU’s Film Club, Rigby said. However, the content of the e-mail did not escalate until a USU student received the information from the Alpha Epsilon Delta organizations e-mail list, Rigby said. This student then replied to the entire AED e-mailing list, adding information questioning Rigby’s morality.
The university is investigating this online paper trail, Rigby said, and is sure it will be turned over to the university’s disciplinary committee.
“There is a lot of support from the university administration,” he said, “they’re looking at the legalities [of the issue].”
“It is sometimes a fine line that we walk, one in which we must take great care to never cross when language turns from spirited to spiteful,” said USU President Stan Albrecht in a statement released Thursday. “Whether it is an issue of racial discrimination or sexual orientation, a university should always be a safe haven for open discussion and civil dialogue. We encourage robust free expression and exchange of ideas on our campus in balance with civility and respect for others.”
Several individuals have raised concerns about whether or not this behavior violates the student code or any computer services polices, Evans said.
With the e-mail transpiring through the university’s Webmail system, individuals are concerned about whether or not it is a policy violation, she said. Dallin Phillips, USU’s judicial officer, will assess those concerns and questions, Evans said.
Currently, Rigby is contacting other organizations for advice about the situation.
“I am trying to get in contact with a national civil rights organization,” he said, “because he did invade my privacy. I’m just trying to see what they recommend and see if they want to get involved in the picture.”
Although it is too soon to tell what action will be taken, if any, Rigby said he expected more of students at USU.
“I was very hurt, very disappointed with Utah State,” he said. “I thought that I was let down by Utah State – I was mostly hurt.”
E-mailing other students about the lack of morality “hurt me as an individual,” Rigby said.
“I was hurt that anyone in their right mind would go to these lengths,” he said.
-kcashton@cc.usu.edu