Connect is prohibited from campaigning today and Monday after the Election Supervisory Board ruled against them Thursday night as a result of a complaint filed by Ignite.
In the complaint, Ignite asserted that Connect showed "blatant contempt" by hanging two campaign banners in space reserved for other student organizations.
The Student Government elections begin Tuesday, the same day Connect could resume campaigning.
"We are confused and appalled as to why it was so harsh," said Connect presidential candidate Omar Ochoa. "We have followed the rules as they were written."
According to Katie Herbek, ESB board member, the ESB informed both tickets at a Feb. 7 meeting that they were not allowed to reserve banner space under the auspices of another organization's name. Ochoa, vice presidential candidate Elizabeth Brummet and Connect campaign manager Dan Paschel were all present at the meeting in addition to Ignite executives, Herbek said.
Ignite members noticed the two banners Monday, one in the business school atrium and another over the Speedway plaza. According to Ignite legal director Ali Puente's complaint, the banner space over the business school was filed with the Latino Leadership Council, a student organization registered as inactive by the Office of the Dean of Students. Ochoa is also listed as the co-director of this group.
Party on the Plaza Committee, which Paschal chairs, was listed for space on the Speedway plaza where the second Connect sign was located, said Dilen Kumar, campaign manager for Ignite.
After Ignite filed a complaint with the ESB, a written advisory opinion was issued Wednesday, in which ESB Chairman Matthew Hargrow informed the two tickets of the rule. Any rule violations should have been removed by 8 a.m. Thursday.
"Once we found we were in violation of the advisory opinion, we immediately took down our banners today," Ochoa said Thursday.
The ESB ruled Thursday in a 6-0 vote that Connect had violated election and University rules and would not be allowed to campaign until 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.
"The Connect ticket had an advantage in two prominent places on campus," said Herbek. "They were seen having a clear advantage over the Ignite ticket which, in following the rules, did not have banners."
Ochoa said he and Connect plan to appeal the decision by the ESB and hope to resume campaigning, "at least for Monday."
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