Despite the positive image of puppy petting and candy giving on the concourse since last week, the fast-paced Student Government Association campaigns have encountered some speed bumps.
Matthew McGough is the 2012 – 2013 chairman of Elections Board, which is composed of seven students who govern over the entirety of elections and is charged with the responsibility of holding candidates and the Elections Council accountable to the Code of Laws.
“We have had a total of 12 violations for the spring campaigns,” McGough said Friday, Feb. 15. “Three of the violations occurred before formal campaigning began and nine have occurred since formal campaigning began on Wednesday, Feb. 13.”
All section numbers and descriptions are taken verbatim from the SGA Code of Laws.
Presidential candidates
Chelsea Crooks is running for president and her campaign violated five of the laws.
700.1 - The Purpose of Elections is to provide a fair and open process by which the students of Auburn University may choose their representatives to the Student Government Association. Title VII of the SGA Code of Laws governs the elections process and is intended to provide a quality educational experience for all involved.
700.2 - Election law is intended to promote this purpose by regulating candidates, campaign workers, elections officials and voters by guidelines that protect all parties from a viewpoint-neutral perspective. Election law seeks to avoid creating an excessively competitive and contentious environment, which might threaten the academic and social welfare of Auburn students.
The Crooks campaign was found to be guilty of violating 700.1 and 700.2 by "purposefully submitting fraudulent documents."
708.7.14.3 - No Candidate may print or distribute more than four hundred (400) T-Shirts.
Because of these violations, the Elections Board unanimously voted that the Crooks campaign may no longer wear campaign t-shirts, must surrender all remaining campaign gimmicks to the Executive Director of Elections, and that Kyla Wilkinson, campaign manager of the Crooks campaign, must be removed from the campaign and may not participate in campaign activities.
On Feb. 18 the Crooks campaign was found to be in violation of sanctions previously handed down by Elections Board. Specifically, her campaign continued to wear campaign t-shirts and hand out gimmicks after being instructed no longer to do so.
For this violation, the Elections Board voted to nullify 750 votes from the Crooks campaign total. All previous sanctions remain valid.
The same day, the Crooks campaign was also found to be in violation of section 708.15.
708.15 - The public Endorsement of any Candidate or Political Party shall be limited to persons eligible to vote in Auburn University SGA elections.
For this violation, the Elections Board ruled that the Crooks campaign must take down all official Twitter feeds between 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19.
708.1.2 - Campaign Preparation shall be limited to reserving with Major Candidate Contracts billboards, windows, and Marquee locations; scheduling Escorts and organizations; holding staff meetings; constructing billboards; and sharing platform ideas with members of a Candidate’s Campaign Staff. Volunteer sheets and Pre-Order T-Shirt sheets shall contain no logos or slogans, only the Candidate’s name and position sought, and may be circulated in organizations during this time. Campaign Preparation applies only to Major Candidates and cannot begin until a date and time specified by the Director(s) of Elections.
710.7.3.3 - Violations of local, state, or federal law
708.7.17.2 - Each Candidate may use only approved Gimmicks for the purpose of Campaigning during the Formal Campaigning period.
708.7.17.3 - Gimmicks shall be included in the Budget.
Mills was found not guilty of violating sections 708.7.17.2 and 708.7.17.3 because "the dogs in question were not used to uniquely distinguish this candidate from others, as these dogs were not seen wearing any distinguishable campaign paraphernalia."
Mills' campaign was found guilty of violating section 700.2.
700.2 - Election law is intended to promote this purpose by regulating candidates, campaign workers, elections officials and voters by guidelines that protect all parties from a viewpoint-neutral perspective. Election law seeks to avoid creating an excessively competitive and contentious environment, which might threaten the academic and social welfare of Auburn students.
For this violation, the Mills campaign was not allowed to campaign between 8 - 8:15 a.m. Monday, Feb. 18.
Vice presidential candidates
Amy Anne Olsen is one of the vice presidential candidates and her campaign violated five of the laws.
708.1.3 - Preliminary Campaigning shall begin no less than one week prior to Voting Day at a date and time specified by the Director(s) of Elections for SGA Spring Elections only. Preliminary Campaigning shall be limited solely to the placement and distribution of Campaign Billboards, Posters, Table Toppers, and Marquees at approved locations for the purpose of publicizing the upcoming Election. Any mention of Preliminary Campaigning shall be understood to apply only to Major and Minor Candidates participating in Spring Elections and shall not apply to the Miss Homecoming Elections. This period will conclude with the beginning of the Formal Campaigning period.
708.11.4.2 - Campaigns may use Electronic Mail (e-mail) to contact non-staff members for administrative purposes only but not to Campaign in any way.
708.11.4.3 - All Candidates are responsible for any Electronic Mail (e-mail) sent by a second party that Campaigns for that Candidate.
708.7.8.5.2 - Candidate and Conglomerate posters shall not be affixed to on-campus building exteriors or on-campus building entrances.
708.7.8.1 - With the exception of Campaign Billboards, Posters, Marquees, Table Toppers, and Painted Windows, as specified in 708.1.3, all Campaign Material utilized during the SGA Spring Elections shall not be put in place or distributed until Formal Campaigning has officially begun.
Treasurer/Miss Auburn candidates
William McManus is a candidate for treasurer and Emily Jordan is a Miss Auburn candidate. Their campaigns each violated the laws regarding the use of email.
708.11.4.1 - A Campaign may contact only members of his/her staff via Electronic Mail (e-mail) for any purpose.
708.11.4.2 - Campaigns may use Electronic Mail (e-mail) to contact non-staff members for administrative purposes only but not to Campaign in any way.
708.11.4.3 - All Candidates are responsible for any Electronic Mail (e-mail) sent by a second party that Campaigns for that Candidate.
Wilson Yeilding is a candidate for treasurer who was brought to trial for an undisclosed violation Monday, Feb. 18. The Yeilding campaign was found to be not guilty because "sufficient evidence was not presented to prove any link between the Yeilding campaign and the violation in question."
Tara Jones is also a candidate for Miss Auburn and her campaign violated two laws.
708.15 - The public Endorsement of any Candidate or Political Party shall be limited to persons eligible to vote in Auburn University SGA elections.
708.3 - Major Candidates may hold Campaign Kickoffs along with other Major Candidates at the beginning of Formal Campaigning. The consumption of alcohol is prohibited at all Campaign Kick-offs. No amplified sound may be used at any time during the Formal Campaigning Period with the exception of approved use at Campaign Kickoffs.
Elections Board
The Elections Board put out this statement regarding the rules’ violations:
"The Elections Board received eight violations Feb. 14, 2013 before the 5 p.m. deadline. Therefore eight cases were heard per the SGA Code of Laws, Chapter 700 (Election Law).
All violation accusations and results are public information. Descriptions from the accusers can be found in the SGA office (Suite 3130). Violation results can be found on both the major and minor candidates’ section of the SGA website.
Each day, cases turned in before 5 p.m. are heard that night. During the case, the accusing and defending parties are able to make two-minute opening statements. Following the statements, the seven members of Elections Board ask questions for further clarification. After questions are answered, the accusing and defending parties may make closing statements. Elections Board members then deliberate for as long as necessary to eventually vote on a final decision of guilty or not guilty. The ruling is made from simple majority vote. If proven guilty, candidates serve consequences based on what Elections Board decides is just.
The Student Government Association realizes the importance of keeping all candidates accountable for their actions as well as their campaign staff’s. All rulings were made per Chapter 700 of the code. For any further questions regarding results, consequences or details of the specific violations, please contact Chairman of Elections Board Matthew McGough."
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