COLUMN: “Be Herd”
“Be Herd.”
There are two sides to this slogan, the theme of the 2004 ASUSU elections. No USU in- or out-of-state student, faculty member or computer technician wants to let other people run their life. The other side has unfolded since last week’s candidate filing deadline.
As of Feb. 19, one of the largest, most-qualified candidate groups since 1975 has made it clear that they want to Be Herd, too. These 62 students are up for a week of hard-core campaigning, no sleep, high levels of stress, once-in-a-lifetime fun and (heaven forbid) politics.
Anything can – and will – happen in politics.
The Elections Committee, with eight sub-committees comprised of 21 dedicated and savvy students, has the hardest job right now; it will just get worse when elections hit in exactly two weeks. Who in their right mind wants to talk about by-laws – where candidates may hang signs, or if it’s legal to stand in one spot of campus but not another? Quite frankly, no one in their right mind really would, but these committee members realize the importance of helping the candidates have a successful and (hopefully) stress-free experience.
The committee’s and candidate’s “law” during elections are ancillary to the ASUSU Constitution and provide laws as to what candidates, university officials/employees and committee members may or may not do prior to and during elections.
The Elections Committee, therefore, also has the right to interpret these by-laws according to its own understanding, just like the U.S. Supreme Court does. Each question, concern or act conducted by the parties prior mentioned will be, and has been thus far, wrung through the stringer and discussed in full detail at its weekly meeting.
During elections, the committee will meet each night at 9 p.m.
Last Wednesday, around 5 p.m., a concerned candidate filed a valid, formal complaint against five other candidates. (Formal complaints may be submitted by anyone by filling out a Grievance Form in TSC, Room 326, or printing one at http://cc.usu.edu/~ashs/grievanceform1.htm, and turning it in to TSC, Room 326. The form must be submitted within 48 hours of the violation.
The issue at hand is in regards to Article IV.A.6, which reads, “A candidate or any representative is not allowed to solicit or campaign for themselves at any public or private meetings (i.e., fraternity, sorority, resident hall meeting, religious activity, etc.), prior to the Monday of primary elections at 7 a.m.”
The committee’s Grievance Board decision was thus: Any solicited event (ex: a newspaper-reporter solicited interview, a friend/professor/anyone asking, etc.) does not violate this by-law. As long as a candidate does not solicit themselves, no by-laws are broken.
The Grievance Board met that evening at 7:15 p.m. and discussed this issue before it invited the “plaintiff” in to present his side. Two of the five “defendants” also had time to present their side. No other witnesses or concerned candidates were invited because they did not file the complaint, nor were they accused of violating by-laws.
The board then deliberated for more than 45 minutes about the issue, taking into consideration both sides, the ASUSU election by-laws and newspapers, freedom of the press rights which all student and national newspapers abide by.
Both national and university/student-sponsored newspapers are not required to provide equal coverage (unlike broadcasters), as long as the editor and/or student-editor makes the decision as whether or not to run the article.
Any election candidate may appeal the committee’s decision to the ASUSU Student Court within 24 hours of the decision. (Article IV.C)
If anyone has any concerns or questions over an election procedure or policy, feel free to contact me at asusupr@cc.usu.edu, or 797-1719.
Ashley Stolworthy is the ASUSU public relations VP.