2008 Woodie Awards
SGA judiciary suspends elections cycle after complaints
Stephen Krill
Issue date: 3/1/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
In the wake of two elections grievances and a suspended election, the Student Government Association Judicial Board has ordered the elections proceedings resumed with a revised schedule.
Late last week, two candidates for office in the Class of 2010 filed grievances with the Student Government Association Judicial Board. According to an interim decision released by the Board on Thursday, Feb. 22, Stephen Townsend and Mairead Delaney filed separate elections grievances. The Judicial ordered Stephanie Venezia, Elections Commissioner, to suspend all elections proceedings pending a final decision of the board. Stephen Townsend was also temporarily suspended from his position as president of the class of 2010.
According to Student Government Association documents, Stephen Townsend was prohibited from seeking re-election to the office of Class of 2010 President on the basis of his failure to meet elections guidelines set forth by the Student Government Association Bylaws and Constitution. He contested the decision, claiming that both were unclear, and filed a grievance. At the same time, Mairead Delaney, candidate for the Class of 2010 Vice President, filed a grievance petitioning for the right to change her declaration of candidacy and run for the Class of 2010 President.
After a formal review of relevant documents, the Judicial Board rendered decisions on both grievances, and ordered that the elections be resumed. Mairaed Delaney was prohibited from changing her declaration of candidacy and, in a precedent-setting decision, the board also ruled that Stephen Townsend would remain disqualified from the election because he "does not meet the minimum qualifications to participate in the current elections." The board also recommended his removal from office. Both Delaney and Townsend were unavailable for comment at the time of print.
Chief Justice T. Neil Wynne explained that "the Townsend and Delaney grievances were decided based on the facts. The negative impact of these decisions on the elections should be negligible, as the Judicial Board always strives to preserve the integrity of the elections processes when handling grievances."
With elections resumed, the Student Government Association has issued a revised elections calendar. Speech and Debate nights are currently available on MCTV and on MCTV29.com, and elections will be held during the first week of March. Students may vote by visiting the homepage of Marist.edu and clicking on the elections link. "It's important the students come out to vote," Wynne said. "Grievances help to affirm the integrity of the process, but we never want that to deter students from voicing their opinions at the polls."
The results of the election will be broadcast live on MCTV at the conclusion of voting, and will be available on the Student Government Association's Web site.
Late last week, two candidates for office in the Class of 2010 filed grievances with the Student Government Association Judicial Board. According to an interim decision released by the Board on Thursday, Feb. 22, Stephen Townsend and Mairead Delaney filed separate elections grievances. The Judicial ordered Stephanie Venezia, Elections Commissioner, to suspend all elections proceedings pending a final decision of the board. Stephen Townsend was also temporarily suspended from his position as president of the class of 2010.
According to Student Government Association documents, Stephen Townsend was prohibited from seeking re-election to the office of Class of 2010 President on the basis of his failure to meet elections guidelines set forth by the Student Government Association Bylaws and Constitution. He contested the decision, claiming that both were unclear, and filed a grievance. At the same time, Mairead Delaney, candidate for the Class of 2010 Vice President, filed a grievance petitioning for the right to change her declaration of candidacy and run for the Class of 2010 President.
After a formal review of relevant documents, the Judicial Board rendered decisions on both grievances, and ordered that the elections be resumed. Mairaed Delaney was prohibited from changing her declaration of candidacy and, in a precedent-setting decision, the board also ruled that Stephen Townsend would remain disqualified from the election because he "does not meet the minimum qualifications to participate in the current elections." The board also recommended his removal from office. Both Delaney and Townsend were unavailable for comment at the time of print.
Chief Justice T. Neil Wynne explained that "the Townsend and Delaney grievances were decided based on the facts. The negative impact of these decisions on the elections should be negligible, as the Judicial Board always strives to preserve the integrity of the elections processes when handling grievances."
With elections resumed, the Student Government Association has issued a revised elections calendar. Speech and Debate nights are currently available on MCTV and on MCTV29.com, and elections will be held during the first week of March. Students may vote by visiting the homepage of Marist.edu and clicking on the elections link. "It's important the students come out to vote," Wynne said. "Grievances help to affirm the integrity of the process, but we never want that to deter students from voicing their opinions at the polls."
The results of the election will be broadcast live on MCTV at the conclusion of voting, and will be available on the Student Government Association's Web site.
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