IUSA settles election dispute

After deliberating for hours last night, the IUSA elections commission delivered its decision concerning election disputes. In a two page decision released early this morning, the commission cleared the Steel and Synergy tickets of all charges levied against them. The Kirkwood ticket was found to be in violation of two sections of the elections code, thus requiring members of the executive slate to complete twenty hours of community service.\nKirkwood was found guilty of violating elections code section 603, improper use of e-mail, because of the mass e-mails sent out by the Kirkwood ticket. The commission stated the penalty was imposed because the ticket did not blind carbon copy the e-mail, allowing students to respond to the entire mailing list and disrupting the University's e-mail systems. \nThe commission fined Kirkwood $231.75, nine percent of their total budget.\nKirkwood was not found guilty of voter fraud under section 602, but was censured for the language of a letter to pledges in fraternities. The commission found Kirkwood guilty under section 601, stating the ticket intimidated pledges. \nThe decision states: "Kirkwood's stated use of a non-existent Vote Tracker system to track the effectiveness of individual pledges was misleading and intimidation thinly veiled. Considering the nature of the male greek system and its pledge practices, the commission finds it highly improbable that some form of intimidation and coercion was not meant to be exerted on pledges."\nFor this offense Kirkwood was fined $463.50, 18 percent of their total budget.\nKirkwood does not plan on appealing the decision, but expressed concern over the decision of the committee. In a statement, the ticket said that while they do not agree with the decision, they "wholeheartedly accept" the ruling as it stands.\n"While we are very concerned by the ruling of the commission, as it is clear that outside perceptions and pre-determined stereotypes had a large impact on the ruling, we will not be appealing the decision," Kirkwood said in the statement.\nSteel was absolved of the complaint alleging unescorted campaigning activity in Forest Quad.\nSophomore Jeff Wuslich, Steel presidential candidate, said he is pleased his ticket was cleared of all wrongdoing.\n"I am glad that the committee cleared the ticket," he said. "We did our best to run a fair, clean campaign, and that came through. We are sorry that we had a misunderstanding with Mr. Starks, and we apologize again for waking him up."\nHowever, Steel may file an appeal searching for stronger penalties against the Kirkwood ticket. They have until 5 p.m. today to do so.\n"Right now we are in the process of deciding whether or not we will appeal," Wuslich said. "It depends on what the members of my ticket want to do."\nSynergy was also absolved of all charges. The ticket was found innocent of voter fraud, breaking and entering, defacing campus and illegally obtaining a key to Briscoe Quad.\nJunior Brian Daviduke, Synergy presidential candidate, said he agrees completely with the commission's decisions.\n"The charges filed against my ticket were ridiculous and retaliatory in nature," he said. "We filed our complaints because the members of my ticket were forced to campaign against unfair practices."\nSynergy does not plan on appealing the decisions of the commission.\nElections commissioner Joe Walterman said the decisions reached by the commission were appropriate.\nIf appealed, all contestments will be heard by the IUSA Supreme Court.