Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Politics don’t just get dirty in national and city elections; it happens on university campuses, as well.
An elections code violation complaint filed against United Students for defamation will be heard on Monday.
The complaint, filed by Jack Connor, Overland Park junior and member of Delta Force, claimed that United Students defamed John Cross, Kansas City, Mo., junior and Delta Force presidential candidate, by providing false information to student groups and organizations while campaigning.
Connor said that he attended three student organization meetings where United Students coalition members stated that Hannah Love, Dodge City junior and presidential nominee for United Students, and running mate Ray Wittlinger, Olathe junior, had authored and passed a combined 29 bills while in the Student Senate Executive Committee. The members also said that Cross had authored one bill.
pullquote
This is indicative of the hostile environment surrounding the coalitions. The hostility they have toward each other is unfortunate.
-Cayla Witty, Wakefield senior
The information also appeared on the United Students’ Web site.
Cayla Witty, Wakefield senior and elections commissioner, said Love and Wittlinger wrote and passed 18 bills combined. She said Cross had authored and passed four bills.
The elections commission hearing board met Tuesday night to discuss the issue. The commission postponed the hearing until Monday to allow for more time to investigate the allegations.
The election commission code in question defines defamation as false and defamatory words communicated with the specific intent to injure a third person, actually resulting in the harm to the reputation of the person defamed.
Witty said the commission would make a decision Monday on the case.
“If they are found to be completely malicious in the statements, the commission could impose a large fine,” Witty said.
If United Students wins the election and is found guilty of defamation with a malicious intent, it could be disqualified, Witty said.
“The decision is totally up to the commission,” Witty said.
Connor said he filed the violation complaint because United Students had made it a point to lie about its accomplishments and that’s not how to win an election.
“I called Wittlinger and asked him about the statements,” Connor said. “When I heard it again the next week, I filed the complaint.”
Wittlinger said United Students had stood and practiced integrity throughout the campaign.
“Every year Delta Force attempts to distract from the campaign because they can’t stand on their own ideas and make frivolous claims to the election commission and try to get negative stories written about their opponents in the papers,” Wittlinger said.
Witty said the only other complaint she had seen similar to this was two years ago.
“This is indicative of the hostile environment surrounding the coalitions,” Witty said. “The hostility they have toward each other is unfortunate.”
Connor said it was up to the commission to decide what to do, but he was confident about the case.
“It could definitely play a role in voting if that information is what people base their opinions on.” Connor said.
Wittlinger said that the student body was smarter and better than these allegations.
The results of the election can be contested before the Commission’s decision on Monday.
Witty said that if the commission found the case to be feasible, a new election could take place.
Voting between Delta Force, Students’ Rights and United Students begin today and end at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Kansan staff writer Ashlee Kieler can be contacted at akieler@kansan.com.
— Edited by James Pinick
Coalitions withdraw violation complaints
Both complaints issued by United Students and Delta Force coalitions were withdrawn ...
Delta Force accused of election violation
United Students filed a complaint against Delta Force sending mass e-mails to ...
Editorial: Election scandals are ‘unsettling’
Recent allegations that surfaced against student body politicians are unsettling and petty. ...
Student Senate works issues for this semester, ...
Many issues are works in progress right now for the Senate
Candidates answer questions at debate
The Elections Commission sponsored an hour-and-a-half-long debate Monday evening. The candidates had ...
United Students win top seats in election
United Students secure the Senate with 51 percent of the student vote, ...
Senators to discuss Rec parking permits
Student Senate and parking department officials are working on a compromise in ...
Envision candidate files complaint
Hearing to be held night before elections
United Students candidates fined
Two campaigning violation charges against the coalition were dropped while two resulted ...
Profile: Student presidential candidates
Not sure how to vote? Use these presidential and vice-presidential candidate profiles ...
Davis' suspension lifted after meeting
May Davis won her appeal and can now begin her vice presidential ...
United Students to file appeal
Coalition will fight decision against May Davis.
Election violation decision postponed until next week
KUnited fined for early chalking
The KUnited coalition was fine $50 for breaking election codes.
New rules could improve elections commission procedures
Past controversies have hurt the commission’s reputation, but a revision of the ...
Election commissioner appointed for Student Senate
Maury Noonan is appointed as the election commissioner the same day he ...
Student Voice faces charges
Student Voice coalition alleges bias in elections ...
Student senate coalition files complaint against opponent
Renew KU filed a complaint against its opponent, KUnited, for allegedly breaking ...
Violations cause candidates removal and fining of ...
Reasons for dismissal include duplicated and photocopied student signatures.
United Students releases platforms
The main themes of United Students' platforms are improving convenience, technology and ...
Changes proposed for student parking
Students without yellow parking permits may be allowed to use parking spaces ...
Student Senate profile
Ray Wittlinger is the student body vice-president.
Wikupedia drops prefix, gets new address
Site no longer has ties to former Student Senate coaltion
University to review piracy policy
Student senate and University administration have a one-month period to research the ...
Kansan gives Student Senate grade report
Kansan Student Senate reporter Brenna Hawley graded the outgoing Student Senate administration ...
Student coalition opts to focus on issues ...
When it has run candidates the last 11 years, Delta Force has ...
Re-approval on agenda for Student Senate
Former Student Senate member Patrick McGowan was dismissed last year after election ...
Spaces to open in front of Rec ...
Passes, available inside the Rec Center, will allow students to park for ...
Coalition disputes fine
Winning candidates take their seats in Student ...
Senate continued with turnover despite a pending hearing on election complaints.
How realistic are parties' platforms?
Delta Force, Students' Rights and United Students implement different key themes in ...
Delta Forces loses presidential race, but gains ...
Delta Force won 27 seats for individual school Student Senators
Hearing will be held to discuss alleged ...
The Student Senate Elections Commission will hold the hearing April 11, at ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Delta Force files election complaint
More of the same.... DF can't run on their own issues, so they have to make bogus claims about other coalitions...
Delta Force files election complaint
Does anyone else think that Cayla Witty has a conflict of interest in this election since her finance is associated with Delta Force?...... DF doing whatever it takes to win..... LAME
Delta Force files election complaint
KUnited, Ignite, United Students ... doesn't matter what the name is. They just can't resist the urge to cheat. It's been happening for years. Someone get these clowns out of power!
Delta Force files election complaint
Wow, with such a mature dialog going on, it's hard to believe why students don't vote more.
Delta Force files election complaint
guys u just don't know how dirty United Students have been playing throughout the whole election.
Ask Hannah Love how many campaign violations have they filed against the other two coalitions?
i can tell u it's more than 5, at least.
so who's the one who can't run on their own issues.
stop talking about cayla witty. she is a good person, fair enough to keep us quiet.
Ask United Students who is the girl that in charge of the events committee and try to give the other coalitions a hard time when they tried to get the paperwork done for tabling. oh did i say she is running with United Student as well?
This is the real conflict of interest. leave Cayla alone.
Now who is doing whatever it takes to win? who's LAME?
Delta Force files election complaint
Cayla Witty has a definate conflict of interest since her beloved is Delta Force. The real crime is the Daily Kansan printing this one-sided, slanted journalism the day elections start, giving United Students no chance to rebut. Thanks Ashlee.
Delta Force files election complaint
Sucks that DF doesn't have any real issues to run on. This whole complaint stems from a disagreement on exactly how you count the legislation (whether you count what wasn't passed or not).
Hopefully, people will vote for United Students based on their platform, as endorsed by the UDK. Surely there is no better reason to vote U.S. than that.
Delta Force files election complaint
I'm an old school Delta Force member, back when we won the presidency. I wish them the best of luck this year. It's nice to see people stand up against United Students, KUnited, whatever they're calling themselves this year. All they've ever accomplished is buying their way into office. GO DF!!
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID