Senior Class elections' first round ends

The first round of Senior Class Board elections ended yesterday, amidst charges by one presidential candidate that she was unfairly disqualified in a misguided process. Presidential candidate Kerry Kennedy said last night that the present Senior Class Board was "inconsistent" and "unfair" in disqualifying her for placing campaign posters in places that violate the election codes. Senior Class Board Nursing Representative and co-chairperson of the election Christi Smith said that Wharton junior Ed Matz and College junior Michael "Scoops" Rosenband are in a run-off election for president. Wharton juniors Brooke Hayes and Aron Schwartz are running off for treasurer and Cindy Dauber and Douglas Rosenband are in a run-off for Wharton representative. Smith would not give the winners for the other races, saying that Senior Class Board members decided to release all the winners at one time. College junior Kennedy said last night that members of the current board knew her signs were in violation of the rules when she put them up, but did not remove them as the rules stated, instead waiting until grievances were filed. She said she was told that four people filed grievances with the board. But at her hearing before the board late Monday night, board members would not tell her who her accusers were. Kennedy said that Senior Class Board President Brandt McKee told her at the meeting that he saw a questionable poster on a table within the 75 foot diameter zone around the polling place, but did not take it down. Wharton senior McKee said last night that he did not say this to Kennedy, nor did he see the sign. According to Kennedy, the other violations consisted of two signs placed in Steinberg-Dietrich Hall without an Office of Student Life stamp and placing two posters within five feet of each other in a tree on Locust Walk. Kennedy vehemently denied that she put the signs up in the Wharton School, saying that they were not mounted or covered like her other signs. But McKee said that "candidates are responsible for their campaign. [They are] responsible for the actions of selves, friends, and any materials used in their campaign." Kennedy said that other candidates saw the final sign violation "all day long" and did not say anything about it. "If [other candidates] really thought it was an unfair advantage, they would have had me move it," she said. Kennedy also said that since she was notified at 10 p.m. on Monday of her immediate hearing, she did not have enough time to prepare her defense for her actions. She also said the whole process is unfair because there is no appeals procedure. "[You] have a group of kids sitting around late at night who all have things to do. I don't think they gave my case the attention it deserved," Kennedy said. Kennedy's supporters also were disappointed with her disqualification because her name was left on the ballot for Tuesday's election, thereby effectively voiding their votes. College junior Lisa Greenberg, who voted for Kennedy on Monday, said she approached the polling booth yesterday to vote again for president for another candidate, but was denied. "It is like a Third World country not a liberal arts university," Greenberg said. "The whole thing is disgusting." College junior and candidate for treasurer Allison Bieber took herself out of the race before elections began, and said Senior Class Board members said they would notify voters of the ballot change. Members also placed a sign made by Bieber on the polling place announcing her withdrawal. McKee said Kennedy was not taken off the ballot because it is a "potentially embarassing and emotional situation" for the candidate. McKee said he made the final decision and he felt "justified" in making it.