UA election violations to be probed

Official charges of misconduct have begun to swirl around the Undergraduate Assembly elections, as candidates have filed 41 complaints of violations of election regulations. And about 1,540 students -- 23.5 percent of the eligible voters -- participated in Monday's and Tuesday's balloting, Nominations and Elections Committee Elections Chairperson Michael Monson said last night. College junior Monson added that about 17.5 percent more students voted this year than last year. "It went very smoothly, we had very few problems," Monson said. The complaints of violations of the NEC Fair Practice's Code -- which candidates file against other candidates -- will be ruled on by the NEC at a meeting tonight. Election results will be released after the hearings. Monson added that a candidate can only be disqualified if members of the NEC determine that there was a "debiasing of the election" or a "gross violation of the rules." But one member of the Coalition for Responsive Student Government -- a group of 20 students running for the UA on a common platform -- said last night that charges have been filed only to hurt his organization's chances. "They're picking at little things broken by all sorts of people," said the member, who wished to remain anonymous because of the code. "They just want to get at the Coalition." He added that he does not think the Coalition has violated any rules. But Tamara Dobowitz, an incumbent UA member running for re-election, said rules are essential for a fair election process. "There are definite rules that have to be made in order to make a fair election for everyone," the College freshman said. "If these rules are broken, it's only fair to give everyone a chance to explain him or herself so that it can be a more just election." Monson said that the deadline for reporting violations was extended from the traditional two hours after polls close until today at 12 noon. He cited a rule in the NEC constitution which allows the NEC to change time constraints during the election process as the reason. Monson said the deadline was extended because the NEC was unable to meet until last night and felt there were "extraneous charges that needed to be filed." He would not explain what he meant by "extraneous." Monson did say that the NEC's judicial process is run very much like a real trial. "The person who files a charge presents the case," Monson said. "And the person who the charge is filed against states his case. Then the NEC deliberates." Darion D'Anjou, president of the Coalition, said he thinks the election went well. But he added that the charges against Coalition candidates are unfounded. "Basically, it's very trivial and in attempt to tear down something that is very, very positive," he said.