The ASUO Elections Board has removed Katie Taylor and Alex Sylvester from the election,

Ben Bowman and Lamar Wise are back on the ballot,

and the angels sing.

 

 

Updated 4/9/12 – 3:35 PM

1) ASUO Constitution Court rules “these matters are best left to the ASUO Elections Board for adjudication.”

And also! Both related and unrelated..

2) ASUO Constitution Court rules to remove VP Candidate Lamar Wise from his position as ASUO Senate President as a result of a grievance filed by ASUO Senator Lindy Mabuya.

A Statement from the Katie & Alex Campaign:

“We made it a standard to run a clean campaign and I am extremely disappointed that this isolated incident has occurred where two individuals exercised extremely poor judgment. It saddens me immensely that this has occurred, as the rest of the Katie and Alex team, as well as the Ben and Lamar team, ran an amazing outreach drive to engage students on extremely important matters. The individuals responsible for this have been removed from the campaign.”

Ben Bowman and Lamar Wise of the Ben & Lamar campaign, along with Sam Dotters-Katz of the YES (Your EMU SRC) campaign, have filed grievances against the Katie & Alex campaign; they claim to have been hacked by Chuckie-D himself (Former OSPIRG Chair Charles Denson, spouse of VP Katie Taylor), and that their campaign materials were fucked with.

Wait what? Ben & Lamar’s management team confronted the Katie & Alex campaign, and “at least five” members “came forward with this information and all showed remorse except for Denson*.”

Hacked how? Wise says he lost access to his Gmail after opening a phishing website disguised as a Google Calendar component. Dotters-Katz says his email was also tampered with.

Fucked with how? Denson apparently used “find and replace” to jumble 12,000 phone numbers on a contact list of possible Ben & Lamar voters. The grievance states that hundreds of volunteer hours were wasted making calls to the wrong people. Dotters-Katz had a similar complaint, claiming that contacts of the YES campaign were either deleted or tampered with. Among the deleted was a list of student leaders in support of the campaign.

So who exactly? The grievances name Katie Taylor, Charles Denson, Kerry Snodgrass, Molly Bennison and Andrew Rogers as the people aware of the act.

Sam Dotters-Katz is calling this an “unprecedented act of cyber espionage.”

The Ben & Lamar campaign is calling for an immediate injunction on the election.

As for us at The Oregon Commentator, we’re calling for Katie Taylor and Charles Denson’s expulsion from planet earth. That’s right. We’re tired of writing about them. Did you think we were actually surprised by this? They’re simply living up to what we’ve called them out on being all along: the devil’s spawn. Look, this isn’t an absurd accusation. They’re a young married couple! Why else would they devote themselves to a life’s work of student manipulation? It just doesn’t make any sense.

We’ll just have to see what the ASUO Constitution Court  ASUO Elections Board does about this. Since these grievances concern the devil himself, let’s hope the Court Board likes a good exorcism.

Demons be gone!

*This post is a regurgitation of this ODE article, so read the original. Love you Emily!

 

Here they are!

It’ll be We Are Oregon v. Katie & Alex in the general election.

 EMU renovation wasn’t passed, but the SRC was. The measure allowing students to vote directly on the allocation of the I-Fee was passed as well..

ASUO Senator Ben Rudin has submitted an official complaint against the K&A campaign after he found this suspicious Duckweb link on their website. You will find a nice advisory banner to the left of that page, which tells students to:

4) Vote on the ballot measures!
Vote ‘Yes’ on all of them except the
advisory questions #1 and #2

Rudin asks that the candidates be ordered to cease campaigning for the remainder of the primary elections. The Oregon Commentaor seconds that request.

Here’s an excerpt from the official grievance.

Describe any steps that you have taken to resolve the conflict.  Include any official procedures that have been followed.

I texted Katie at 1:46 p.m. asking her to take it down before 5 p.m. She did not.

 

Are you aware of any laws, rules, etc. that you believe have been violated?  If so, please list them.  Please refer to University and State laws, if applicable.

 

“1.2.     Elections and campaigns must be carried out in the best interests of the student body, as determined by the ASUO Elections Board, and in compliance with §13 of the ASUO Constitution.”

 

By taking a neutral URL (asuo2012.com) and redirecting it to a partisan page, she is abusing the credibility of that URL. With Katie & Alex engaging in a fraudulent and deceptive practice, the election is not being carried out in the best interest of the student body

 

“6.4.     Egregious campaign violations shall consist of, but are not limited to: submitting votes for other students; tampering with the electronic election system; harassment, intimidation, bribery or fraud with the intent of affecting the outcome of the election; libelous or slanderous statements or conduct; tampering with another campaign’s materials with malicious intent; intentional actions to mislead or obstruct the duties of the Elections Board.

 

6.4.a.  Consequences for egregious violations may include suspension of campaigning, removal from ballot, and removal from office.”

 

The Katie & Alex campaign are taking a neutral URL and directing it to a partisan website. That is clearly fraud with intent of affecting the outcome of the election.

 

“5.1.    Candidates, tickets, campaign committees and affiliated individuals shall be held responsible for all election-related activities explicitly or implicitly authorized by the campaign.”

 

This Facebook event is put on by Andrew Rogers, a Katie & Alex volunteer. Katie Taylor, Alex Sylvester, Joanna Stewart, and Alexandra Flores-Quilty RSVP’d as attending this event, which demonstrates knowledge and implied authorization.

What is your desired outcome of the grievance/complaint?

I am asking that the Katie & Alex campaign be ordered to cease and desist all use of ASUO2012.com and be suspended from campaigning for the remainder of primary elections.

 

 

On March 6, during an intramural basketball game, a fight broke out between opponents from each team. Becky Metrick covered the story the next day in Daily Emerald, which can be found here. Today, the Emerald‘s front page features an article by Josephine Woolington covering the meeting organized by Kendaris Hill (former president of the Black Student Union). According to the concerned students of the Black Student Union, the Ol’ Dirty‘s placement of the photo (probably the first or third one in the series here) of Amin Tufa being taken into custody by DPS officers was inappropriate. The picture was placed on the front page next to an unrelated headline regarding crime in the West University neighborhood.

Let me just say a few things:

1. Black people have been on the front page of newspapers before! It’s not a new thing.

2. Crime happens. And if it happens next to or on campus, perhaps it should be covered in the campus newspaper, no?

3. I sure as hell did not immediately pin all of the crime conducted West of campus on Tufa when reading the headline. That would be racial profiling.

4. Finally, Black Student Union… You do know that the editor-in-chief of the Emerald is black himself, right?

Editor-in-chief Tyree Harris as quoted by Woolington in today’s Ol’ Dirty: “The story was clearly questioning everything involved in the situation. […] Nobody in the newsroom was trying to portray this story in a stereotypical way.” I agree with Harris’s assertion that the stories were indeed questioning the situation.

Apparently, the Ol’ Dirty better think twice before putting a picture of a black man next to the word “crime” in a cramped newspaper– lest they hurt somebody’s feelings. Ol’ Dirty, why must you be so environmentally conscious so as to save space by putting your stories so close together! Haha, I kid, but basically, these complaints translate to: “It confuses people when the word ‘crime’ and a picture of a black man appear together but do not relate nor coincide!”

So, perhaps the next step is to start giving each story a 1.5 inch border between it and any other story, making the newspaper a more safe and pleasant thing to read. However, complications may arise with the Climate Justice League. Seems like Ol’ Dirty is in some hot water! The links to the ODE stories are above– Your thoughts?

*Check out her shady campaign website on which she instructs students how to vote on the ballot measures !

Name

Katie Taylor

Year in School

4th Year

Major

Planning, Public Policy and Management

Hometown

Queenstown, Maryland.

Tell us your slate, ever so briefly. And more importantly, provide a succinct yet compelling set of sentences that aim to rationally persuade us to adhere to it.

The Katie & Alex slate is a diverse set of passionate students with proactive plans to empower and advocate for students. This is our school, it only makes sense that we get what we want out of it and that our voices are heard in the decisions that matter to us, from the cost of our education to campus sustainability to fairly representing all communities on campus.

 Which inadequacy or injustice at the UO keeps you up at night the most? How do you plan to remedy this?

 I think whenever students don’t have a voice in the issues that affect them that’s not right and it’s problem. Students can and should take the lead on this campus. They should lead the EMU/SRC renovation project. Students of color should lead any changes within CMAE. Students should take the lead on addressing the cost of our education. Students should take the lead in bringing back anonymous report forms to protect survivors of sexual assault.  I will reach out to every student who has not had a voice on campus and dedicate my time to making sure their voice is heard.

 Without listing experience, what’s so special about you anyway? Why are you doing this?

What’s special about me is that I have the good fortune to be part of this amazing student body. And what’s special about them? You name it. There are so many different kinds of people from so many back grounds who are passionate and engaged  and looking for something more out of their time here and looking to give back to their campus community. I do this for them. I have had the privilege this year of working with so many awesome students on a wide array of issues. I want to keep building student voice around these issues so we can start making some real changes for everybody.

Students have found that ASUO elections rouse a kind of futile discourse consisting of many “empty promises.” To quote Shakespeare, candidate promises truly sound like “much ado about nothing.” Obviously there’s a lot to be done at the UO, but let’s not forget how short an executive term is. Slates aside, what are your principal, feasible priorities?

I will prioritize funding for student groups and programs. I will help address the cost of our education by bringing student voices to Salem and Washington DC to fight for more higher education and financial aid funding.  Furthermore, I will work with administration to bring down the cost of the EMU/SRC renovation project—I’ve been in enough meetings to know that it can be done. Reinstating anonymous report forms is another  attainable victory that will greatky improve student lives. I also will continue to be an ally to students of color as they fight for transparency in the transition from OMAS to CMAE. Finally, I will keep pressing the State Board of Higher Education to keep guns and tasers off of this police force.

 Although the ASUO is one of the most established student governments in the country, a majority of the UO student body remains apathetic (and annoyed) during elections. If you could speak to these apathetic students in particular, what would you tell them?

There’s a lot of rhetoric thrown around on campus through various means that I think disempowers students. They don’t believe that they can or should fight for an affordable education, or a sustainable campus, or for social justice. That rhetoric is wrong and it’s a lie. Students can do so much. We have the power—this is our school. It’s your choice whether to care or not, but if someone tells you not to care, don’t listen. They aren’t leaders.

 And now for the most pressing of inquiries: As you may or may not know, we’re all about the booze here at the Commentator. If you could have a drink with anyone, who would it be and what would you be drinking? Be very specific.

 One of the most important leaders of the twentieth century and perhaps the most influential woman in the civil rights movement, Ella Baker. We would drink red wine, something modest and inexpensive.

Mmmmmmm here it comes everybody! We’re at the climax of ASUO Elections Week. The corner of 13^th & University is an absolute no-fly zone, the Ol’ Dirty Emerald is gettin’ preachy, Eugene resembles a special, nippy kind of hell, and the Oregon Commentator is providing some real damp elections coverage this year. With all of this, we see that the cogent, student voter is met with immeasurable adversity, and we beckon him to transcend! Transcend all of this vain tumult and sign into Duckweb anyway. Vote. Pick your poison. Choose the lesser of the inherent evils that will govern you next year. But before you do, learn your candidates from the only publication to have a glass of beer for a mascot—a glass of beer that has arms and a fuckin’ cigar in one hand, and a beer in the other. That’s right, a beer holdin’ a beer! Here’s what none of you have been waiting for. We are proud to present the Official 2012 Oregon Commentator Voter’s Guide.

I.

Cimmeron Gillepsie (Abolish Capitalism)

WHO HE IS: That guy in the Civil War uniform crossing the lawn.

IN A NUTSHELL: He’d like to eliminate all hierarchical institutions, and promote “community liberation and revolution,” “transformative solidarity,” and “stewardship.”

AND MORE SPECIFICALLY: He wants to use the I-Fee “to purchase small arms for the entire student body in order to take over all of Cascadia.”

WHY HE’S ALRIGHT: The question, rather, is how isn’t he?

WHY HE’S NOT: Obviously this platform is seamless, but breaking ODE news tells us that HE HAS UNEXPECTEDLY ENDORSED KATIE & ALEX. Whatever, you still better fucking vote Abolish Capitalism 2012.

II.

Katie Taylor & Alex Sylvester (Katie & Alex)

WHO THEY ARE: The radical progressive choice. Katie’s current ASUO Vice President.  Alex is the Educational Director of the LGBTQA.

IN A NUTSHELL: They say they’re “committed” to making every student’s voice “heard, included, and respected.”

AND MORE SPECIFICALLY: They’re into providing intense advocacy for “underrepresented and “non-traditional” students, and aim to place these particular students in the ASUO as well. Priorities include “bringing back anonymous reporting forms to empower victims of sexual assault.”

WHY THEY’RE ALRIGHT: Dear God this is tough. I don’t know, they’re for keeping the DPS unarmed.

WHY THEY’RE NOT: In a moderate dissent, they’re promises to haggle administration for a lower the cost of the new EMU/SRC is a masked way of delaying the process, maybe even an attempt to table the whole idea. I know that if I call into question their efforts to “advocate marginalized students,” I’m earning myself a guaranteed BIGOT accusation, so I won’t go there. But in regards to Katie Taylor herself, as current ASUO Vice President, as a human being, I’m going to try and put the Commentator’s rampant disapproval of this person’s very existence as modestly as possible, but only because she’s literally been a campus publication piñata for an entire school year. How about this: In the Jazz Age, Katie Taylor would be what they may have called a shady lady bird.  Did the Commentator just try and insult somebody by calling them a shady lady bird? Look. If you’re into money laundering, secret matrimonies among political figures that help rob students of over 100k, and getting arrested in D.C. to make a statement, she’s your gal.

III.

Ben Bowman & Lamar Wise (Ben & Lamar)

WHO THEY ARE: The mildly progressive choice. Ben’s the Chair of the ACFC and an ASUO Senator. Lamar is ASUO Senate president.

IN A NUTSHELL:  Their trying to compel voters to “Create the Future” by helping them pursue big dreams like lowering the cost of education and engaging a wider-array of students in the ASUO.

AND MORE SPECIFICALLY:  Priorities include copious student voter registration and “consistent presence in the halls of decision making, on and off campus.”

WHY THEY’RE ALRIGHT: They’re adamant about passing a measure to start the EMU/SRC renovation. Ben acknowledges the “politicization” that plagues the ASUO, and said “we cannot sever relationships like our incumbent.” Most importantly, he took the time to interview with the Commentator on super short-notice.

WHY THEY’RE NOT: Earlier this year, the Con Court found Ben guilty of violating “viewpoint neutrality” as a key voter on OSPIRG’s %97 budget increase. Ben himself, when he was Ben & Katie’s elections coordinator last year, and Ben’s current elections coordinator, Sophie Luthin, have both been formally reprimanded for pre-campaigning. The Ben & Lamar slate is even accused of creating this, a fake website about the We are Oregon candidates.

IV.

Laura & Nick (We Are Oregon)

WHO THEY ARE: The conservative choice. Laura’s the Panhellenic President of the UO Greek System, an ASUO Senator, and a member of the PFC. Nick’s the president of the Residence Hall Association.

IN A NUTSHELL: They want to use the I-fee “to better the student experience.”

AND MORE SPECIFICALLY: Priorities for next year include hosting a “big-name concert” and a “big-name speaker.” Unlike the methods of the other candidates, they want to use Lariviere’s “new and creative” solution for reducing tuition called the “New Partnership.”

WHY THEY’RE ALRIGHT: Laura acknowledges the fact that millions of dollars were lost last winter when the EMU/SRC renovation measure wasn’t passed, and is also adamant about passing that shit RIGHT MEOW. Their commitment to keep funds on campus ensures the worried Commentator that no part of the I-fee will go to OSPIRG. Most importantly, they hosted dollar beers at Taylor’s last night.

WHY THEY’RE NOT: Vocal supporters of We Are Oregon include some of the Commentator’s biggest arch nemeses: Delta Gamma sorority, the Ol’ Dirty Emerald, LaMichael James, and that one frat douche.

Again, apparently the only (write-in) candidate gracious enough to give a girl an interview.

Name

Ben Schorr

Year in School

Freshman

Major
Undeclared

Hometown

Portland, Oregon

Tell us your slate, ever so briefly. And more importantly, provide a succinct yet compelling set of sentences that aim to rationally persuade us to adhere to it.

Boy, you Commentator girls and your vocabulary. After googling the term “slate,” I learned that it means a fine-grained gray, green, or bluish metamorphic rock easily split into smooth, flat plates. So, I can tell you that I have absolutely no slate in this election. After further research I discovered that succinct means short, not what happened to the dinosaurs. If only dinosaurs were still around today. A man can dream…

Which inadequacy or injustice at the UO keeps you up at night the most? How do you plan to remedy this?

I believe it’s outrageous that there is no room 420 in the residence halls. I expressed my concerns on this matter in an announcement that I submitted to the Oregon Commentator earlier this year. It is my goal that by the year 2014 EVERY room be #420.

Without listing experience, what’s so special about you anyway? Why are you doing this?

Oh, thank God you didn’t ask for experience. I’m special because I can represent the voice of the every man, and I will do this by not talking very much. Because really, most people don’t care about this stuff anyway.

Students have found that ASUO elections rouse a kind of futile discourse consisting of many “empty promises.” To quote Shakespeare, candidate promises truly sound like “much ado about nothing.” Obviously there’s a lot to be done at the UO, but let’s not forget how short an executive term is. Slates aside, what are your principal, feasible priorities?

That’s a great question. Though I will work my hardest in many different ways to keep the UO an alright place, mostly, I can absolutely promise you and my fellow students one thing. I will eat a tuna sandwich at least a couple times in the upcoming months. What does this have to do with the UO? Nothing. Will this help anyone? No, probably not. But is this the honest-to-God truth? You bet your ass it is. With Ben Schorr, what you hear is what you get. I like to set my goals low that way I don’t disappoint anyone. Ya know, I like the sound of that. Here’s the new slogan, “Ben Schorr: Expect to be Disappointed.”

Although the ASUO is one of the most established student governments in the country, a majority of the UO student body remains apathetic (and annoyed) during elections. If you could speak to these apathetic students in particular, what would you tell them?

I’d tell them to GO F&*K THEMSELVES, this is my life!

And now for the most pressing of inquiries: As you may or may not know, we’re all about the booze here at the Commentator. If you could have a drink with anyone, who would it be and what would you be drinking? Be very specific.

As I have expressed earlier in this interview, I long to roam with the dinosaurs. Therefore, I would choose to drink with any kind of dinosaur, a drink of their choice. It could be anything; seriously, I’d drink my own piss to meet a dinosaur.
But let’s be more realistic. I would drink alone, as per usual. My drink would consist of the tears of my enemies, mixed with Jager. Followed inevitably by my own tears, but I’d rather not talk about that part. Then more Jager.

Well he’s the only one thus far to oblige the Commentator with an interview !

Name

Ben Bowman

Year in School

Sophomore

Major

Political Science

Hometown

Tualatin, Oregon

Tell us your slate, ever so briefly. And more importantly, provide a succinct yet compelling set of sentences that aim to rationally persuade us to adhere to it.

Succinctly, the Ben & Lamar slate represents students from all corners of campus and we’re running because we believe we can make the UO a better place.

Which inadequacy or injustice at the UO keeps you up at night the most? How do you plan to remedy this?

The single biggest problem facing students today is the cost of our education. From tuition to textbooks to housing, higher education is more expensive and exclusive today than it was for our parent’s generation. I believe that if students are not fighting for an affordable education then no one will – so it is the responsibility of the ASUO as the voice of 24,000 students to do so. I recognize that this is a problem that won’t be solved overnight and that one person cannot do much to change it alone. But a student body that is engaged and passionate about their education and consistently prioritizes affordability can. We can do that at the University of Oregon. And Lamar and I can help.

Without listing experience, what’s so special about you anyway?  Why are you doing this?

I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of the ASUO over the last two years.  Students deserve an ASUO Executive that is transparent, ethical, and will work hard for them every single day.  Lamar and I are running because we are committed to fighting for students and we believe we can do better.

Students have found that ASUO elections rouse a kind of futile discourse consisting of many “empty promises.” To quote Shakespeare, candidate promises truly sound like “much ado about nothing.” Obviously there’s a lot to be done at the UO, but let’s not forget how short an executive term is. Slates aside, what are your principal, feasible priorities?

The most important thing for students to keep in mind is that almost none of the changes that any candidate is discussing will happen overnight – and in fact most of these changes will take at least a year’s worth of work to make progress on – but that does not mean we shouldn’t work on them.  My number one priority while in office will always be fighting for an affordable education.  That doesn’t mean that I think I’ll be able to cut tuition in half in a year.  But by laying the groundwork with a successful voter registration drive and a consistent presence in the halls of decision making (on and off campus), we can start to make an impact.  I believe in the power of students, I believe in the power of the ASUO and I think for us to not work on critical issues like the cost of tuition is an underestimation of our power and a misunderstanding of the purpose of the ASUO.

Although the ASUO is one of the most established student governments in the country, a majority of the UO student body remains apathetic (and annoyed) during elections. If you could speak to these apathetic students in particular, what would you tell them?

Apathy is a problem in politics not unique to the ASUO.  I think it’s important to listen to apathetic students.  There are reasons why many students don’t vote and it’s important for us, as people seeking to represent all students, understand those reasons so we can work to do better.  Additionally, the ASUO needs to work to communicate better with students about the services that our student government provides and offer more opportunities for students to get involved.

And now for the most pressing of inquiries: As you may or may not know, we’re all about the booze here at the Commentator. If you could have a drink with anyone, who would it be and what would you be drinking? Be very specific.

I’d love to have a beer with John Kennedy at the Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port.

Snatching defeat from the bowels of victory.

The 2012 ASUO elections are currently underway, but Sam Dotters-Katz is still riled up (and rightfully so) about 2011. In an email sent to the Con Court in the late hours of Tuesday night, Dotters-Katz petitioned for the removal of Ben Eckstein and Katie Taylor, on grounds that are perhaps less traditional than normal: “This is not an impeachment petition. This is an elections grevience [sic]. The Court has the power to remove candidates from the election. Further, the Court has the power to remove elected officials from office after elections occur, if evidence comes to light regarding egregius [sic] violations.”

The grievance refers specifically to the dirty financial dealings of the Ben and Katie campaign reported by the ODE. On that matter, Dotters-Katz isn’t pulling any punches: “The election rules differentiate between different levels of violations, based on severity of the action, ‘Egregious Violations’ being the most extreme, followed by ‘Serious Violations’. Turning in incomplete contribution forms is listed as a serious violation…However, I also argue that the violations outlined as ‘egregious’ are also applicable and more correctly describe the misconduct Ben and Katie.”

And what is the plan? It’s something of an odd-ball, and yet refreshingly frank approach:

“I understand why some might have the initial inclination to simply let [Ben and Katie] finish our their term and move beyond the issue. I believe that it would be a great miscarriage of justice to set a precedent that no matter how egregious your misconduct may be, if you are good enough at hiding it you won’t be punished. There is no statute of limitations on this claim, and the rules clearly state that the Court has the power to remove elected officers post-elections…Sinjin and Kaitlyn should be named interim President and Vice President until May 24th at 11:59PM. Both are members of the ASUO and full-time students currently and will be through the end of this term. In the alternative; Currently the student body is voting for new Executive Officers, and whoever is elected fairly and without fraud should be immediately instated as interim President & Vice President.”

So, as of yesterday, we have another major scandal coming out of the ASUO executive, one that may involve an impeachable offense, and at least one person is taking up the charge to make it happen.

Excellent.

The ODE’s Editorial Board (BAINS!) has officially endorsed Laura Hinman & Nick McCain’s ASUO Executive Candidacy.

We support Hinman and McCain, because what they are offering seems to be a way out of this year-in, year-out debate about campaign integrity.

The ODE gives a sound– and sassy– explanation for its endorsement. It cites Hinman’s leadership, but only briefly. What it really does is turn on the TUDE about the fact that this school year has been ridden with SHADY ASS ASUO BULLSHIT.

Students deserve to not have to deal with this kind of backroom dealing. And that doesn’t mean Senate shouldn’t talk about it when it happens. It doesn’t mean the Emerald shouldn’t report on it when it happens.

It means it shouldn’t happen.

You did good Ol’ Dirty, you did good. The Commentator’s right with ya and your reasoning, but quit your complaining! All this controversy gave y’all something important to write about this year, other than shit like, hmmm I don’t know, maybe that one wooden nightstand make-over article ?

 

Someone get this girl an award. Emily Schiola, former Commentator and professional skeleton-in-the-closet investigative journalist does it again, in her FRONT PAGE Ol’ Dirty Emerald article today.

Mapped out above in the screen shot, Emily demonstrates the fishy money laundering carried out by some of the COMMENTATOR’S MOST WANTED: Charles Denson, Sophie Luthin, and the Eckstein/Taylor Executive.

And Former ASUO Prez Sam Dotters-Katz files a grievance accordingly. Here are the specs he layed out for us:

1. On March 9, 2011, Charles Denson wrote a $100 check to Sophie Luthin, Ben & Katie’s campaign director.
2. On March 10, 2011, Sophie re-directed that $100 to Ben Eckstein, the top of the Ben & Katie ticket
3. On March 13, 2011, Charles Denson wrote a $573 check to Sophie Luthin
4. On March 13, 2011, Sophie Luthin re-directed that $573 to Ben Eckstein
5. The contributions from Charles Denson were hidden from the campaign financial disclosure form
6. Sophie Luthin confessed that the reason for the re-direction is Charles Denson didn’t want his name on the contributions form.

So it turns out that the noble Sophie Luthin took this to Emily out of her own volition. She told the ODE, “I am bringing this to the attention of the student body because the same people who orchestrated this last year are involved in elections again. I want students to know the truth.”

In response to the allegations, Denson claimed that he made a “personal contribution to Sophie as a private citizen.” And VP Taylor told the ODE: “I did my own fundraising and this is news to me.”

Let’s not get our hopes up, but a grievance has indeed been filed. If the Con Court acts– which it won’t– current ASUO Senate Prez Lamar Wise will assume the presidency! In a Facebook message (that’s right folks) Sam Dotters-Katz gave us this quote, copied and pasted from the ODE article posted tonight online.

“I filed this petition because the student body deserves more than a president who believes he is above the rules and whose year in office has been bankrupt of integrity or honesty,” Dotters-Katz said. “We cannot send the message that you can get away with blatant corruption simply if you are good enough at hiding it.”

Dotters-Katz reiterates this sentiment to sum up his grievance:

In conclusion, I would like to address the timing of this petition. The respondents, Ben and Katie, have two months left in office, and the alleged actions took place over a year ago. I understand why some might have the initial inclination to simply let these two finish our their term and move beyond the issue. I believe that it would be a great miscarriage of justice to set a precedent that no matter how egregious your misconduct may be, if you are good enough at hiding it you won’t be punished. There is no statute of limitations on this claim, and the rules clearly state that the Court has the power to remove elected officers post-elections.

If nothing is done about this “egregious misconduct,” it will be a “great miscarriage of justice” you say?

No no no no. Ben & Katie themselves are the great miscarriage of justice.