Senate election results nullified by grievance

The Election Judiciary Board determined Thursday that a grievance filed against Election Commissioner Michael Goldstein was meritorious and voted by a three-fifths majority for the Student Senate to issue a special election and void all of the results from last week’s Student Senate election.

“I think that a lot of people in the room were really shocked,” said Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Facilitator Chris Hansen. “There’s still a lot that’s unsure right now.”

The grievance filed by David Wright, a senior anthropology major, alleged that Goldstein violated four different sections of the Student Senate’s Election Code.

In his grievance, Wright said Goldstein’s affiliation with Delta Tau Delta Fraternity created a conflict of interest that “can’t guarantee there is not a bias toward other candidates when there is a member of his organization is running for a position on Student Senate.” Goldstein denied these allegations and stated he disclosed his affiliation with Delta Tau Delta Fraternity when he applied for the election commissioner position.

Wright also alleged that the assistant commissioner for student involvement violated an Election Code bylaw by failing to provide an informational meeting with several campus organizations “detailing the election procedure and ballot issue for the upcoming election,” according to the Senate bylaws, and claimed Native American Student Services, as well as other cultural centers, did not receive such information. Goldstein submitted a written statement by the assistant commissioner for student involvement that acknowledged meetings were not set up with the Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, Student-Athlete Advisory Council and the vice president for Clubs and Organizations.

Wright further alleged that Goldstein failed to follow a provision under the election procedures because a final ballot naming the final candidates was not submitted to the school newspaper for publication. Goldstein said he was not able to submit a final ballot for publication because there was an ongoing grievance that was being settled prior to the election.

“It would not be in the good interest of Student Senate to print a ballot that could have been changed with the grievance that could have been possibly overturned by the dean of students,” Goldstein said.

Although Election Judiciary Board members unanimously decided Goldstein only violated two particular sections of the Election Code, three of the five voting members voted that the violations were serious enough to warrant a special election, which may not occur until next semester.

“I think they looked at what was best for the students and acted upon it,” Wright said. “I think justice for the students has been served. I feel more comfortable with the situation now. I think a better turnout will come of it, and change will come of it to look at the bylaws and the quality of the commissioner that we hire.”

Hansen said the Student Senate may appeal the Election Judiciary Board’s decision to Raul Cardenas Jr., the Dean of Students and assistant vice president for Student Engagement at the University of Northern Colorado.

“It’s a little frustrating, but certainly nothing that Student Senate or myself can’t overcome,” said Student Trustee Matt VanDriel, who was also a presidential candidate in last week’s election. “I won before, and I have confidence that the students want me to represent them and that I’ll do OK on the next election, too.”

-- Originally published in The Mirror on April 16, 2010