The Student Government campaign is starting to heat up, as both Ignite and Connect filed complaints alleging misconduct.
Ignite is accusing Connect of violating election rules regarding vandalism. According to Ignite, Connect members illegally advertised themselves in chalk on bathroom and room signs in the business school.
"The fact that the University has vandalism in the same section as violent crime shows that this is obviously something the University takes very seriously," said Ali Puente, the legal advisor for Ignite and government junior.
At a hearing Monday night, Connect confirmed the allegations, and the ESB has prohibited Connect from campaigning in the business building on the first day of elections, March 2.
In another complaint, Ignite notes significant damages to their West Campus A-frames. A hammer was left at one site.
Angela Rose Courtney, security officer at the Kappa Delta and Sigma Delta Tau sorority houses, personally witnessed one act of vandalism.
"You see these signs being vandalized and everything, but you don't see Connect signs being vandalized," she said. "You don't see nothing happening to Connect."
Connect filed a complaint that what Ignite calls A-frames are in fact billboards, since they are clearly professionally designed and are not made of wood. Ignite replied that there aren't actually any requirements in the ESB code that the A-frames be either hand-painted or wooden.
Connect also accused Ignite of failing to properly report the cost of their Web site, citing that it was credited to a professional company entitled Astonish Designs. Dilen Kumar, Plan II senior and campaign manager of Ignite said Astonish Designs is run by business school student Tim Hamilton, economics junior, who designed the Web site as a personal favor to Ignite vice presidential candidate Colby Hanks, a finance senior.
The Ignite Web site had been riddled with attacks, according to Ignite. Before campaigning began, an unidentified hacker altered profiles, putting in several profane and slanderous remarks about Ignite candidates.
"We don't want to make any direct accusations as yet, but there were numerous references that could only have come from someone who knew us and our candidates very well," said Kumar.
Ignite also accused Connect leadership of running a "whisper" campaign to smear Ignite candidates and of using scare tactics to steal supporters from their own campaign.
"We never did such a thing," said presidential candidate for Connect Omar Ochoa, business honors senior. "I don't recall ever doing that and would never do that."
Ignite has been campaigning illegally in the Jester dormitory, according to Connect's final accusation. Ochoa said that only dorm residents are allowed to campaign in dorms, and even then only on their own floor. Ignite said that one of the campaigners resides on the 12th floor of Jester, so their actions were acceptable. However, Dan Paschal, campaign manager for Connect, was quick to point out that the campaigning, in fact, occurred on the 4th floor, making it illegal.
Be the first to comment on this article!