The Student Government Association Elections Board is expected to decide today whether to punish two slates for violating the Elections Code.
Elections Chair Marco Pretell-Vazquez said Cardinal Collaboration and University Coalition are under review for possible violations involving the use of Ball State University's Gradebook e-mail system.
The Elections Board was alerted to the possible violation Sunday evening, and Pretell-Vazquez said the matter should come to a resolution by today. Elections Board Sheriff Nicole Akey confirmed the incident was in violation of the Elections Code.
Pretell-Vazquez and Akey agreed if the board finds any slate in violation, money would be deducted from their $250 bond. They stressed no slate would be taken off the ballot this late in the process.
"I really don't think that it would be any cause to take them off the ballot," Pretell-Vazquez said. "Students won't have to worry about the slates that they're voting for being taken off."
Late Sunday evening, multiple SGA candidates e-mailed students using Gradebook. In Cardinal Collaboration's mass e-mail, students were told they received the message because they currently or once attended class with one of the slate representatives. The e-mail then outlined Cardinal Collaboration's primary platform points and encouraged students to vote in Monday and Tuesday's SGA election.
Pretell-Vazquez said University Coalition is also under investigation for a "similar" violation, "but under different specifics" involving e-mail campaigning. University Coalition presidential candidate Kerri Cropper said there has been a misunderstanding among all three slates, and that members of her campaign also received Gradebook e-mails from Cardinal Impact slate members.
Shortly after, University Coalition campaign manager Nick Hewitt clarified the presidential candidate's statements, saying Cardinal Collaboration was actually responsible for the Gradebook e-mails his slate received. He also speculated that Cropper was mistaking prior alleged campaign violations by Cardinal Impact, but that only the Elections Board had more information on that matter.
Cropper said her campaign will move forward as intended today, and she said she hopes the Elections Board can clear up the "misunderstanding between the rules and all slates."
"No matter what happens, I think that all three slates are at the same point, and we're going to keep doing what we're doing and keep pushing forward," Cropper said. "There was an obvious misunderstanding if all three of us have possible violations. We're just waiting to see, and until then we just hope students continue to vote."
Beth Cahill, presidential candidate with Cardinal Impact, said she was disappointed to hear the other slates could possibly be reprimanded, but that all of the slates are now "on the same level," referring to controversy surrounding the first nomination convention.
She said Cardinal Impact was aware of the Elections Code and hasn't done anything in violation of rules.
"Everybody makes mistakes," she said. "I'm hoping nobody gets too hard of a time for it."
Under SGA Election Code Article VI, Section 2, candidates are expected to adhere to all university policies when campaigning or fundraising. As part of Ball State's Student Code, Appendix E, Section 6, Letter C, personal and commercial use of university technology is prohibited, particularly for "political campaigning."
Cardinal Collaboration presidential candidate Nathan Meeks said he was not aware of the university policy as of Monday afternoon and that he felt his slate was within its rights by utilizing Gradebook for campaign purposes. He said he was also unaware the Elections Board was reviewing the case, and that he was surprised by the news.
"I guess I should read the fine print a little better," Meeks said. "Whatever action they feel they need to take, I'm not going to try to sweep anything under the rug."
Tommy Conroy contributed to this report.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
