Campaign tactics leave SGA results inconclusive

Student Government Reporter

Published: Thursday, March 4, 2010

Updated: Thursday, March 4, 2010 01:03

Voting for the SGA Presidential elections officially ended at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

According to the numbers, Kelly Offutt and Derek Barchenger received the most votes. But some difficulties have arisen and Offutt and Barchenger have yet to be deemed the winners.

"We cannot officially name a winner," said Joey Crouch, head of the elections agency. "Our overall goal is to ensure that the student's vote is being heard. If we have any reason to believe that there has been interference, we're going to look into it. We are here to make sure everything is fair."

Investigations are currently taking place concerning campaigning tactics. Despite expectations of a "Clean Campaign", the elections agency is looking into infractions made by candidates.

According to the president of the Residence Hall Association, Chelsea McGuire, Offutt and Barchenger were seen campaigning in the hallways of Drummond, Kerr and Village D.

"The reason why I'm taking action is because the residents have come to me and would like it taken care of," McGuire said. "I feel like SGA and the election board really need to be taking note of this. If SGA won't take the concerns of RHA into consideration, RHA won't be able to take SGA into consideration either."

According to Section 4.5.3.2 of Title 9 in the SGA bylaws, "campaign tactics must abide by university regulations, including Residential Life and Greek Life policies."

Under section 38 of the Residential Life policies there is a specific policy concerning solicitation. It states "solicitation occurs when those not authorized by Residential Life initiate contact with students without their permission to discuss, sell, survey, or distribute goods, services, or information. Individuals, organizations, or groups wishing to solicit within the residence facilities should contact the appropriate residence area coordinator for further details.

McGuire stated that neither Offutt nor Barchenger contacted any residence area coordinators.

"We're both disappointed this has come down to an integrity issue," said Courtney Skaer, vice presidential candidate. "This has obviously put us at a disadvantage. Not allowing students to vote for who they want and influencing people to vote is not fair."

Skaer said both her and Adam Roll plan to fight for a revote.

"We just want this situation to be evaluated fairly," Skaer said. "There has obviously been a wrong done."

Offutt denies any wrongdoing and commented that infractions are being investigated on the other party also.

"We received the most votes and we won the elections," Kelly Offutt said. "The accusations are completely false. This is what goes on during SGA elections."

The issue is being taken to the Supreme Court of SGA. The court date has yet to be set.

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James

Tue Apr 13 2010 00:53

poop on you

Nick Ian Emenhiser

Thu Mar 11 2010 17:27

Scott, good point--there is currently someone working on it however. Well, I'm not sure if he's working on the APP itself but he is working on a boo koo of social media platforms. In fact he's President Burns Hargis' personal assistant on developing social media platforms that interface into the campus community. The idea is more workable than you'd think.

But then again I'm an "idea person" and not much for practicality..I have no idea how expensive it is, I just know that OSU has the will to make it happen.

Anonymous

Wed Mar 10 2010 06:06

I would like to know why: after the sga elections, an article was in the paper saying the election was being disputed less than 6 hrs afterwards, but now that Derek and Kelly have been found to be the winners AND cleared of EVERY charge, there has been no article.

Scott

Mon Mar 8 2010 17:47

I don't think SGA will ever develop an Iphone app. They are pricier than one would think. The only way it could be done within this next year is if someone is already working on it.

Anonymous

Sat Mar 6 2010 08:13

Me and Rollo were smoking some hash when he told me he was going to start this story if he lost. He's cool, but definitely a sore loser. I mean come on. Bring up stuff about him smashing his girlfriends windshield in? That's old news. He's changed since then. Give him a break. He really really wants to win, why else would he start all the drama?

Nick

Fri Mar 5 2010 21:58

Um. The "polling station" was www.campuslink.okstate.edu. I voted on my phone, is that a "polling station" ? Once SGA develops the iPhone app, will that be a "polling station" ?