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Ortiz acquitted of campaign violations
Perry Robbin
Issue date: 4/16/09 Section: News
USG convened a judicial session Wednesday night to determine whether USG presidential candidate Jason Ortiz had violated the organization's canvassing policy.
The judiciary found Ortiz to be not guilty by a vote of 2-1 .
The petitioner in the case was Jason Gamache, a 6th-semester actuarial science major who serves on USG's Judiciary. Gamache stated before the court that he saw Ortiz and Amanda Stauble, Ortiz's running mate, going door-to-door in the south tower of McMahon residence hall at 3:30 p.m.
Canvassing in buildings, except on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 7 to 10 p.m., is prohibited under section four of the USG election and campaign policies, and is grounds for disqualifying a candidate.
Gamache called the rules in question a gray area, but defended them.
"If this isn't what we follow, then what do we [follow]?" Gamache said.
Stauble countered that she and Ortiz were invited guests of Will Stobierski, a 6th-semester math major who lives in McMahon. Stobierski provided testimony affirming that he invited the two into the dorm to speak with interested members of his floor.
Stauble continued the defense, saying that she was aware of the guest policies in dorms and that Gamache saw her in the stairwell, where she could not have been going door-to-door.
The majority opinion, composed by Chief Justice John Ernst and Justice Filip Bartnik, said that Ortiz and Stauble did not violate the USG canvassing policies as they had sought affirmation for their actions before engaging in them.
Although they did not have a canvassing pass for McMahon, they did not need one, as they were guests of a resident.
The opinion also commended Gamache for his prudence in bringing the issue to the court.
Thomas Haggerty, Ortiz's opponent in the ongoing USG executive election, was a witness on Ortiz's behalf. He stated before the court that he approached Ortiz to provide testimony.
Haggerty said the issue first came up a few weeks ago. He provided an e-mail to the judiciary that contained his communication with ResLife director Steven Kremer as well as John Sears, Reslife's executive program director.
The judiciary found Ortiz to be not guilty by a vote of 2-1 .
The petitioner in the case was Jason Gamache, a 6th-semester actuarial science major who serves on USG's Judiciary. Gamache stated before the court that he saw Ortiz and Amanda Stauble, Ortiz's running mate, going door-to-door in the south tower of McMahon residence hall at 3:30 p.m.
Canvassing in buildings, except on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 7 to 10 p.m., is prohibited under section four of the USG election and campaign policies, and is grounds for disqualifying a candidate.
Gamache called the rules in question a gray area, but defended them.
"If this isn't what we follow, then what do we [follow]?" Gamache said.
Stauble countered that she and Ortiz were invited guests of Will Stobierski, a 6th-semester math major who lives in McMahon. Stobierski provided testimony affirming that he invited the two into the dorm to speak with interested members of his floor.
Stauble continued the defense, saying that she was aware of the guest policies in dorms and that Gamache saw her in the stairwell, where she could not have been going door-to-door.
The majority opinion, composed by Chief Justice John Ernst and Justice Filip Bartnik, said that Ortiz and Stauble did not violate the USG canvassing policies as they had sought affirmation for their actions before engaging in them.
Although they did not have a canvassing pass for McMahon, they did not need one, as they were guests of a resident.
The opinion also commended Gamache for his prudence in bringing the issue to the court.
Thomas Haggerty, Ortiz's opponent in the ongoing USG executive election, was a witness on Ortiz's behalf. He stated before the court that he approached Ortiz to provide testimony.
Haggerty said the issue first came up a few weeks ago. He provided an e-mail to the judiciary that contained his communication with ResLife director Steven Kremer as well as John Sears, Reslife's executive program director.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Out Raged
posted 4/16/09 @ 11:12 AM EST
I beleive that if the USG Judicial Decision has now rightfully reformed its outlook in campaign violation hearings to allow for mitigating factors such as intent, and overall effect to minimize the repercussions for behavior such as this, there MUST be an apology issued to Steve Mlenak, Becky Auger, Kade Etter, and Ryan Foreman; These students were held for hearing after being petitioned for far less blatent violations and then crucified before the same "Judicial Board" for actions that effects testified to be drastically smaller than those committed here. (Continued…)
Clarification
posted 4/16/09 @ 1:06 PM EST
The judiciary based their decision on the fact that no election policies were actually violated. This makes it different from the previous cases. When there is a no tolerance policy in place, the only pertinence lies in the determination of violation or lack thereof. (Continued…)
The Sheriff
posted 4/16/09 @ 4:37 PM EST
It's a rule...to not...campaign certain days...in dorms...
WHAT?
That's a pretty dumb rule. Where the heck did it come from?
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