USG tickets charged with code violations

Within the first day of campaigning for Undergraduate Student Government elections, four of the six presidential tickets were accused of violating sections of the elections code.

The accused candidates will be tried this week by the elections court.

They could face fines or disqualification if found guilty, according to the Elections Code.

The first violation report states that Mario Ciabarra (junior-business administration) campaigned prior to filing for candidacy by posting a World Wide Web site promoting his campaign, Husbands said.

Ciabarra described the site as a personal site he posted in December for his family and friends that indicated one of his goals this semester was to become the USG president.

"It wasn't a public site. It wasn't advertised to anyone," Ciabarra said. "To me, it wasn't early campaigning."

The second and third reports filed state that the Andrea Prinzi (junior-political science) and J. P. Jaworski (junior-life sciences) ticket posted two signs that covered posters from other candidates, Husbands said. However, Prinzi said she was unaware of the violation report.

"It's a surprise to me. I've been extremely strict with my committee captains," Prinzi said. "Who's to say they weren't removed and placed over? . . . It's a shame that it comes down to this."

The fourth report filed states that the Caroline Casagrande (junior-international politics) and Brian Olivo (junior-advertising) ticket stapled posters to another ticket's posters, Husbands said.

"I guess we didn't know it was a violation," Casagrande said. "It's good that we know now, and it won't happen in the future."

The fifth violation report filed yesterday states that the Todd Krout (junior-international business management) and Karen Skomorucha (sophomore-international politics) ticket covered another ticket's sign with a poster, Husbands said.

"All of my staff was instructed on the rules," Krout said. "They did not cover any posters."