2008 Woodie Awards
Violations filed regarding recent SGA election
Forum being held to address the issues
Natalie Jurgen
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: News
On March 25 and 26, SGA held its 2008 spring elections for executive positions and undergraduate student senate representatives.
A record number of 3,431 student voters, which is 500 more than the last student election, turned out to vote for their favorite candidates.
"This says a lot about the students of ECU wanting to get their voices heard," said Keri Brockett, current student body president.
At 6 p.m. on March 26 in the Mendenhall Social Room, the winners were announced.
Andrew Griffin won as president, Bradley Congleton as vice president, Guillaume Bagal as treasurer and Beth Anne Koury as secretary. Three out of the four winners were from ticket one and already held executive positions within SGA.
Unfortunately, since the results have been announced, violations regarding the executive positions have been filed against the elections committee and the results from the election are no longer official.
Candidates running on another ticket have filed a total of six violations.
At this point in time, information regarding these violations cannot be released until the matter has been discussed more in-depth by the appropriate boards.
"We plan to follow all guidelines and procedures regarding this matter and the next step is to have a hearing," said Abey Dessie, SGA attorney general.
A hearing will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Mendenhall Social Room to discuss if these six violations do in fact have merit, and proceed from there.
If the violations are considered legitimate, a decision will be made to either change the elections process for next year, or to hold a new election before the spring semester ends.
Members of SGA were contacted regarding this matter, but were unable to comment on the issue until the official hearing was held.
Student government officials from NC State sent a letter to he ECU Student Congress regarding their alleged fraud claims. All of the 16 universities within the UNC system collectively work under the Association of Student Governments (ASG).
NC State felt the need to address these violations out of fear of making their system look corrupt.
However, NC State's student government system operates entirely different from ECU's, thus making any claims illegitimate.
Problems with the fairness in voting occurred in the election last year when a small percentage of faculty were allowed to vote, according to Ashley Fish, elections committee chair.
Due to the small percentage of faculty votes, no decision was made to hold another election, and the results from the initial election stood.
The hearing Thursday night is open to all students interested in attending.
This writer may be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com
A record number of 3,431 student voters, which is 500 more than the last student election, turned out to vote for their favorite candidates.
"This says a lot about the students of ECU wanting to get their voices heard," said Keri Brockett, current student body president.
At 6 p.m. on March 26 in the Mendenhall Social Room, the winners were announced.
Andrew Griffin won as president, Bradley Congleton as vice president, Guillaume Bagal as treasurer and Beth Anne Koury as secretary. Three out of the four winners were from ticket one and already held executive positions within SGA.
Unfortunately, since the results have been announced, violations regarding the executive positions have been filed against the elections committee and the results from the election are no longer official.
Candidates running on another ticket have filed a total of six violations.
At this point in time, information regarding these violations cannot be released until the matter has been discussed more in-depth by the appropriate boards.
"We plan to follow all guidelines and procedures regarding this matter and the next step is to have a hearing," said Abey Dessie, SGA attorney general.
A hearing will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Mendenhall Social Room to discuss if these six violations do in fact have merit, and proceed from there.
If the violations are considered legitimate, a decision will be made to either change the elections process for next year, or to hold a new election before the spring semester ends.
Members of SGA were contacted regarding this matter, but were unable to comment on the issue until the official hearing was held.
Student government officials from NC State sent a letter to he ECU Student Congress regarding their alleged fraud claims. All of the 16 universities within the UNC system collectively work under the Association of Student Governments (ASG).
NC State felt the need to address these violations out of fear of making their system look corrupt.
However, NC State's student government system operates entirely different from ECU's, thus making any claims illegitimate.
Problems with the fairness in voting occurred in the election last year when a small percentage of faculty were allowed to vote, according to Ashley Fish, elections committee chair.
Due to the small percentage of faculty votes, no decision was made to hold another election, and the results from the initial election stood.
The hearing Thursday night is open to all students interested in attending.
This writer may be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 32
Mike
posted 4/10/08 @ 1:55 AM EST
Whether SGA's across the state are different or not, the ultimate goal is to be the voice for the students, not the voice for the administrators trying to run SGA by using cowardly puppets who cant make decisions for themselves. (Continued…)
lol
posted 4/10/08 @ 2:30 AM EST
The story starts "on March 25 and 26".
The story was printed... on April 10.
I don't really know what to be impressed with the most here: that this "news" story is riddled with opinion stated as fact, that it only took the TEC two weeks to get something printed, or that the story even showed up in the first place. (Continued…)
yup
posted 4/10/08 @ 1:05 PM EST
Looks like university level politics are no different than any other level in the world. From high school to international affairs, its all who you know, who knows you, and what you promise(or don't promise for that matter). (Continued…)
So True
posted 4/10/08 @ 2:31 PM EST
^ Amen.
I'm so tired of being represented by the Homecoming Queen/King. Popularity doesn't bring you intelligence. Student Government should be taken back by the students. (Continued…)
Voter
posted 4/10/08 @ 3:39 PM EST
Ticket 1 Sucks!
Another Voter
posted 4/10/08 @ 4:20 PM EST
I agree. They are as crooked as the day is long.
Nice step show, but no ideas about how to change the university.
Thanks Cole Jones for running another corrupt campaign. (Continued…)
C.R.O.
posted 4/10/08 @ 5:37 PM EST
I'm sorry to say it but "Vision, organized through empowerment" is not a platform. It is a slogan. Slogan's should be treated as an accessory when used in a campaign, they are not nor should they be the core message of a campaign. (Continued…)
Karl Childers
posted 4/10/08 @ 9:51 PM EST
Who the hell hires East Carolinian writers. Here, let me help:
"Unfortunately, since the results have been announced..."
Never use the word unfortunately to refer to the opinion of the writer/publication in a story. (Continued…)
Concerned
posted 4/10/08 @ 11:34 PM EST
"However, NC State's student government system operates entirely different from ECU's, thus making any claims illegitimate."
Definitely bad writing. (Continued…)
Jon
posted 4/10/08 @ 11:35 PM EST
The election WAS overturned last year. Then it was turned back after some crying occurred.
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