The Digital Collegian - Published independently by students at Penn State NEWS
[ Tuesday, April 5, 2005 ]

Election violations still not resolved

Collegian Staff Writer

Violations incurred Wednesday during Undergraduate Student Government (USG) elections that could affect the outcome of the elections did not reach the USG Supreme Court last night.

Head Elections Commissioner Diana Maxham said that although the USG Supreme Court will not review the violations until at least next Monday, the number of votes will be officially certified Thursday.

Maxham said that in the interest of time and workload of the USG Elections Commission, the only violations the commission would bring to the court would be violations that could possibly push the candidates over their spending cap and subsequently disqualify a candidate.

However, special counsel Shawn Gordon said the fines acquired from the violations would most likely not affect the outcome of the March 30 election, in which USG President Galen Foulke and Vice President Luke Adams were re-elected.

Gordon said that as soon as the elections commission has discussed the violations in depth, it will file the appropriate briefs with the court.

Foulke and Adams face a possible canvassing violation for soliciting votes in Brumbaugh Hall without a permit.

If they are found guilty and do not contest the violation, the court will assign them a fine considering recommendations from the elections commission.

Fines can range from $5.50 to $550 depending on the frequency and severity of the offense.

Matt Midles, legal counsel for the Foulke/Adams ticket, said he cannot comment on the violation until he is notified by Residence Life or the elections commission.

Midles said that in the event of election day violations, most campaign tickets leave a margin in their executive spending cap. He said he is unsure of the exact amount of money left in the Foulke/Adams spending limit.

Foulke said he is not worried about the case at all because he does not think it will qualify as a violation.

Robert Dinkelspiel and Joseph Budd, who finished fifth in the election, also face a harassment and discrimination violation for a flier that read, "Don't get Foulked 'N' the A."

Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied community said the flier contained homophobic undertones that offended them.

Dinkelspiel said that although the flier was not directed at the LGBTA community, he does not plan to contest the violation.


 



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