IUSA approves election changes

The IU Student Association passed a resolution Tuesday to approve a new elections code that will take effect in the 2004 elections. After significant controversies last year, the IUSA Supreme Court mandated that congress remedy the problem by approving a new code, which contains the input of both the court and IUSA.\nIUSA Student Body President Casey Cox said past elections have taken too long and have roused complaints from students due to over-zealous e-mail campaigns.\n"It really doesn't do justice to the organization," Cox said. "It decredits it and is frustrating for everyone involved."\nIndividual members of congress evaluated the code prior to the meeting, voicing their concerns and suggesting amendments over the course of the evening. Considerable discussion took place over the revised election commission, which the congress appoints to oversee the entire elections process and deal with any complaints that arise. Last year, only half the commission took part in the proceedings, said Derek Molter, elections coordinator for IUSA.\nOnly six members will serve on the 2004 election committee.\n"It's not the most glamorous job so it's hard to even get people on the committee," Molter said. "Plus, we do pay them, so this way will be cheaper."\nThe court also suggested no member of IUSA congress or the executive branch be allowed to serve on the committee. The court felt this might lead to a conflict of interest, Molter said. However, College of Arts and Sciences Rep. Matt Davis said such a measure might not solve the problem, as IUSA congress still appoints the commission.\n"It's either (IUSA members of congress) serving on the commission or it's appointed by us," Davis said. \nNo action was taken to resolve this concern.\nThe IUSA will not allow any student on academic probation to serve, and discussed including methods of enforcing this. In the past, IU has red-flagged students on probation and reported them to the body, but Congressman Brian Clifford said it's a violation of student law to report those GPAs. \nIUSA did not resolve the matter.\nThe absentee ballot system was also abolished because students can now vote online from anywhere in the world via the IUSA Web site and have 36 hours in which to do so.\nIn addition, a section stating that the executive nominees must win 40 percent of the vote or 20 percent more than the second-place finisher was upheld after considerable debate. However, Collins Sen. Dan Shapiro said this might cause ethical problems.\n"What if the majority was only 100 votes?" he said. "That would be a disproportionately small number of students representing all 38,000 students."\nThe new code also provided stipulations for ethical campaigning including rules that candidates may not chalk sidewalks or send mass e-mails without using the blind carbon copy field to uphold recipient anonymity.\n"Students are really just upset when they get 75 e-mails in the course of two weeks," Molter said.\nIUSA elections will be held early March 2004. \n-- Contact staff writer Mike McElroy at mmcelroy@indiana.edu.