Canvassing dormitories without a permit could lead to penalties, even the inability to take office, for newly elected Undergraduate Student Government (USG) President Galen Foulke and Vice President Luke Adams.

According to university policy, any canvasser must register with the assistant director of Residence Life at least 24 hours prior to entering a residence hall, and if that canvasser does not reside in that building, he or she must be escorted by an occupant at all times.

Head Elections Commissioner Diana Maxham said that the commission would have to weigh all the circumstances surrounding the complaint before it could make a decision.

Maxham said depending on the severity and frequency of the incidents, it may affect the results of the election, and the issue will be taken before the USG Supreme Court.

If the candidates do not contest the violation, the court then has the responsibility to penalize the candidates, she said.

Maxham added that if the fines cause the candidates to exceed the $550 executive spending limit, then the election could be contested, and the executive ticket with the next highest vote count, who did not surpass their spending cap, will assume office.

"If the person did not have a permit to canvass the dorms, it'll be an election violation," Maxham said.

Bill Dempsey, a resident on the tenth floor of Brumbaugh Hall, said at about 6:15 p.m. yesterday two men and one woman wearing Foulke 'n' A T-shirts knocked on his door to solicit his vote for the Foulke/Adams campaign.

Dempsey said he tried to contact his resident assistant, but he was not available.

Dempsey added that the campaigners continued to canvass his floor and possibly returned an hour later.

Jackie Tiedeman, who is an eighth floor Brumbaugh Hall resident, said one male Foulke/Adams supporter with a resident from Brumbaugh also came to her door and asked her to vote for Foulke and Adams at about 6 p.m.

Kim Roth, who is a member of the Mark Taticchi and Rodney Hughes campaign team, said she was informed of Foulke/Adams supporters also soliciting at Curtin Hall and McKean Hall.

Foulke said Brumbaugh Hall is an open canvassing building and his supporters could have resided in Brumbaugh, which would make having an escort unnecessary within the residence.

Foulke added that he was unsure what happened at this time.