Michael Metcalf, Student Government Association elections board chairman, was removed from his position Wednesday night at the presidential/vice presidential debate. SGA president Tolu Olowomeye announced her decision as the debate drew to a close.
"It was brought to my attention that inappropriate comments were made by Mr. Metcalf which compromised the integrity of the SGA, the elections board and the entire election process," Olowomeye said.
Olowomeye insisted that her decision was not influenced by outside forces.
"This decision was made irrespective of pressure from any media outlets or for any personal reasons," she said.
Olowomeye and Metcalf both said the comment was directed at Nataki Sanders, the treasurer candidate on the Loving Slate. The remark was made at an elections board meeting Tuesday night to discuss a fine levied on the Loving Slate.
Metcalf admitted to making a comment, but he said it was not as bad as rumors suggested. He said his comment was a mock debate question made after the business portion of the meeting was completed.
"I said 'One treasurer candidate is a business major, the other is an idiot. Why should you be treasurer?'" Metcalf said, explaining his comment.
Elections board member Will Garvey confirmed Metcalf's stated comment.
Sanders said the comment was ridiculous because she is a business major with an economics minor. Metcalf said he had no idea what Sanders' major was.
"I was appalled and floored by it," said Sanders, who heard the comment from a member of her staff. "I couldn't even be mad. He doesn't know me. We don't even talk."
Sanders added that she didn't mind the comments being published because they were obviously unfounded and untrue.
Metcalf added that every person involved in the election process has committed the same crime.
"What I'm accused of," he said, "every single person is guilty of the same thing because we are all people, and we all have opinions."
Both presidential slates and Olowomeye said they fear this situation will give students a bad impression of SGA and might hurt voter turnout.
"People don't like politics for a reason," presidential candidate Jayson Manship said. "But we don't want people not to vote because of the actions of one individual."
Manship and vice presidential candidate Adam Ittenbach did not know about Metcalf's removal before it was announced at the debate. From their understanding, though, they said they agreed that Olowomeye made the right decision.
"She is totally on top of this whole election," Manship said.
Presidential candidate Nick Loving said he was offended because of the inappropriate actions toward his slate. He also expressed fear of student backlash.
"I'm not pleased with the situation," Loving said. "It creates a problem with the functions of the election."
Olowomeye said she would do everything in her power to restore trust in the election process.
"Remain assured that I will do whatever is in my power to ensure an ethical, fair and smooth election process," she said.
The Student Senate will vote next Wednesday on whether to formally remove Metcalf from his position. Article IV of the SGA bylaws states that only a two-thirds vote from the Senate can remove a director of an autonomous board, which the elections board is.
SGA adviser Kay Bales said the executive board, which is made up of the president, vice president, secretary and treasurer, has the authority to temporarily remove a director between Senate sessions, though. Olowomeye will present her case to the Senate Wednesday. Metcalf said he would not argue his side of the issue before the Senate.
Joe Flores, SGA secretary and elections board member, will be the interim chair until the Senate votes on Metcalf's removal. If a two-thirds vote is not reached, Metcalf will be reinstated into the chairman position.
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