IDS stories

Kirkwood ticket wins IUSA election

Regan McCarthy | IDS | 03/27/08

Despite controversy, the Kirkwood ticket won the IU Student Association elections Wednesday night.

At a hearing the same night, fines were levied against the ticket for violating IUSA election codes.

"I think (the victory) just goes to show how well the Kirkwood ticket and the entire staff did," said Joe Weis, Kirkwood president-elect.

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Grad students denied votes in first day of IUSA elections

Regan McCarthy | IDS | 03/26/08

About 10,000 student voices were missing from the first day of voting in this year's IU Student Association elections.

Many graduate students who tried to vote Tuesday were denied access to the computer voting system, receiving a message that said "you are not a registered voter." No student is required to register before voting.

"After some research, it was determined that there had been an incomplete data load of some 7697 student records," said Barry Walsh, IU associate vice president for enterprise software, in an e-mail. "Most of the students who were affected were graduate students."

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Former Kirkwood candidate apologizes for forwarding emails

By Sara Amato | IDS | 03/25/08

After allegations became public regarding IU Student Association and University code misconduct, the accused Kirkwood ticket congressional candidate has publicly apologized.

Luke Fields, presidential candidate with the Big Red ticket, accused Adam Pozza, a congressional candidate for the Kirkwood ticket, of accessing Fields' computer and forwarding e-mails regarding Big Red's campaign to members of the Kirkwood ticket, according to the complaint. On Monday, Pozza said in a written statement that he was sorry and regretted his personal error in judgment.

"The error is not the fault of the Kirkwood ticket," he wrote in the statement. "The Kirkwood ticket and its candidates did not suggest or request in any way that any e-mails be reviewed or forwarded."

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Similar views: IUSA history repeats

By Nick Cusack | IDS | 03/25/08

With IU Student Association presidential candidates in the final throes of their campaigns, perhaps only minor differences set these candidates apart.

And history shows it might be hard to imagine many candidates - at least in recent history - who drastically differ from this year's group of three.

Despite female students consistently outnumbering men on campus, only a handful of women throughout IUSA's history have landed the top leadership position. In addition, few minorities have been president.

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IUSA candidate issues stipend challenge to other tickets

By Regan McCarthy | IDS | 03/25/08

This year, the INdiana ticket for the IU Student Association elections is planning to give back to students.

David White, presidential candidate for the INdiana ticket, plans to give his $4,000 presidential stipend to the IU Foundation if he's elected, and has challenged his opponents to do the same. The stipend would be used for student scholarships.

So far, Luke Fields, presidential candidate for the Big Red ticket, has agreed to donate his stipend; not because he is trying to keep up with the other ticket, he said, but because he hopes to show that he is not in it for the money and because the Big Red ticket is committed to public service.

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Will students vote for IUSA officers?

By Regan McCarthy | IDS | 03/25/08

Tax-free textbooks, presidential stipends, better building maintenance and a recent grievance are big issues for students as IU Student Association elections approach. Voter apathy, however, still appears to be a problem.

IUSA elections are scheduled for today and Wednesday. Some students are getting geared up to vote. Others aren't sure what IUSA is.

"I have a green T-shirt for the Kirkwood thing and I was like, 'man, now I can't wear it,'" said freshman Hilary Stinson, in regard to the recent allegations the Big Red ticket has made against the Kirkwood ticket. A Kirkwood congressional candidate has admitted to reading and forwarding campaign e-mails from Big Red presidential candidate Luke Fields, but an official decision regarding Kirkwood's eligibility will be decided Wednesday.

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By Amy Burke | IDS | 03/25/08

It's as easy as a click of a button.

With the polls opening today at 10 a.m., the INdiana, Big Red and Kirkwood tickets are going head-to-head in IU Student Association elections.

Students are encouraged to vote until 10 p.m. Wednesday at www.indiana.edu/~iusa.

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Kirkwood ticket member admits stealing Big Red campaign e-mails

By Sara Amato | IDS | 03/24/08

Days before the IU Student Association elections, the Big Red ticket has filed a formal complaint against a member of the Kirkwood ticket for allegedly violating IUSA election and University codes.

Luke Fields, presidential candidate with the Big Red ticket, alleges that Adam Pozza, a member of the Kirkwood ticket, accessed Fields' computer and forwarded e-mails regarding Big Red's campaign to members of the Kirkwood ticket, according to the complaint.

Sarah McDonough, IUSA elections commissioner, said because of Pozza's actions, there is a "definite possibility" that the Kirkwood ticket may be disqualified from the election. The commission will hold a hearing Wednesday night in response to the allegations.

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IUSA candidates heat up debate as election nears

By Regan McCarthy | IDS | 03/20/08

In order to get students to make their marks heavy and dark during elections March 25 and 26, INdiana, Big Red and Kirkwood candidates fielded questions from Chancellor Ken Gros Louis at a debate Wednesday night.

"If you were traveling in a train going 90 miles per hour and a bus leaves..." joked Gros Louis, the IUSA debate moderator.

The real questions covered topics from the biggest issues facing students today to candidates' feelings about the IDS.

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Students raise concern over committee representation

By Michael Sanserino | IDS | 03/20/08

With a national search for a men's basketball coach already underway, many student leaders wonder whether their input will be considered for the high-profile hire.

Some student leaders said years of campus indifference have led administrators to largely discount the student voice. Low voter turnouts at IU Student Association elections and organizations' widespread inability to unify interests have left students without a seat at the table, leaders said. But IU officials claim students' opinions will still be heard, even though they believe students don't have the necessary experience to sit on such a committee.

The 10-member basketball coach search committee does not include a student.

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IUSA welcomes students to submit questions to candidates for debate

By Regan McCarthy | IDS | 03/06/08

Students will have the opportunity to ask next year's potential student leaders about important issues by submitting questions for the March 19 IU Student Association election debate.

IUSA elections, scheduled for March 25 and 26, are just around the corner. All IU students may suggest questions for the debate that are either general or aimed at a specific ticket by e-mailing Mike Feldman at mafeldma@indiana.edu. The IUSA debate will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. March 19 in the Indiana Memorial Union State Room East. Debate questions will be e-mailed to members of all the tickets before the event so candidates will have time to prepare.

All IUSA candidates gathered Monday in the IMU Oak Room for a mandatory meeting. Some of the tickets present included Big Red, INdiana and Kirkwood. Last year, IUSA officials struggled to find enough candidates because a presidential candidate may not run unopposed. However, the number of people filling the room Monday suggested that this year's elections will be competitive.

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Kirkwood ticket joins two other campaigns for IUSA elections

By Regan McCarthy | IDS | 02/27/08

As IU Student Association elections approach, students are gearing up for the campaigning season.

Running mates junior Joe Weis and sophomore Robert Bercovitz lead the Kirkwood ticket, which will compete with the Big Red and INdiana tickets in the upcoming March 25 and 26 IUSA elections. Their main goals include uniting, strengthening and adapting students' experiences at IU.

"Our platform is based on interacting with students," Weis said. "We plan on taking on many issues and concerns at IU."

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Candidates prepare for IUSA race

By Regan McCarthy | IDS | 02/15/08

With elections coming up in March, students are starting to form together and create tickets or groups to run for the chance to govern the student body.

"It is our sole responsibility for students to be represented on campus," said current IU Student Association president and junior W.T Wright. "In (IUSA) students get to voice their view on subjects and get behind different people on different issues."

Running mates Luke Fields and Dan Sloat, both juniors, are running on the Big Red Ticket. Their main goal is to represent the campus as a whole.

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