2008 Woodie Awards
Another Cloud Hovers Over USG Process
Kyle Thomas
Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: Commentary
All this maneuvering is a little stupid, no?
Judicial hearings, wild accusations and improper applications of the First Amendment are to be expected in a national campaign. One may even look to find them in a state campaign. I'm sure from time to time they've appeared in a contentious town council race or two. But c'mon USG, these last-minute, should-they-or-shouldn't-they-be-disqualified meetings are, after two years running, a bit tired.
On Wednesday night, presidential candidate Rob Puff and running-mate Nicole Rougeot initiated a hearing regarding the contention that an endorsement letter from former USG President Andrew Marone which appeared in The Daily Campus was improperly solicited. USG election rules prohibit the solicitation of endorsements from non-undergraduates. The Ryan McHardy/Meredith Zaritheny ticket - or should I say simply "McHardy," as Zaritheny was conspicuously absent from the hearing - refuted the claim that the endorsement was requested.
On Thursday night, the Vladimir Voinov/Daniqua Boulware ticket was kicked out of the presidential race following, no shock here, allegations of improper campaigning - a tip-of-the-cap to yesteryear with shades of Steve Mlenak and Katie Etter thrown in for nostalgia.
After last year, call these hearings inevitable. Call them business as usual. It is an example of "gotcha" style politics trickling down from the highest stage like a Reagan economic plan. Since 2000, the nature in which election battles are fought is only sinking to the bitterest depths. Look out, or next year's USG elections might look like this year's Zimbabwe ones. Expect widespread opposition arrests in the face of a poor turnout for the incumbent.
If the members of USG desire to increase apathy and disillusionment among the student body, then consistently holding these hearings is one way to do it. It is tough enough to get students to the polls, despite all of the lofty enfranchisement rhetoric strewn forth during the short campaign cycle. It becomes even more difficult when the body politic votes, only to have three justices no one has really ever heard of step in and levy a hasty ruling.
Judicial hearings, wild accusations and improper applications of the First Amendment are to be expected in a national campaign. One may even look to find them in a state campaign. I'm sure from time to time they've appeared in a contentious town council race or two. But c'mon USG, these last-minute, should-they-or-shouldn't-they-be-disqualified meetings are, after two years running, a bit tired.
On Wednesday night, presidential candidate Rob Puff and running-mate Nicole Rougeot initiated a hearing regarding the contention that an endorsement letter from former USG President Andrew Marone which appeared in The Daily Campus was improperly solicited. USG election rules prohibit the solicitation of endorsements from non-undergraduates. The Ryan McHardy/Meredith Zaritheny ticket - or should I say simply "McHardy," as Zaritheny was conspicuously absent from the hearing - refuted the claim that the endorsement was requested.
On Thursday night, the Vladimir Voinov/Daniqua Boulware ticket was kicked out of the presidential race following, no shock here, allegations of improper campaigning - a tip-of-the-cap to yesteryear with shades of Steve Mlenak and Katie Etter thrown in for nostalgia.
After last year, call these hearings inevitable. Call them business as usual. It is an example of "gotcha" style politics trickling down from the highest stage like a Reagan economic plan. Since 2000, the nature in which election battles are fought is only sinking to the bitterest depths. Look out, or next year's USG elections might look like this year's Zimbabwe ones. Expect widespread opposition arrests in the face of a poor turnout for the incumbent.
If the members of USG desire to increase apathy and disillusionment among the student body, then consistently holding these hearings is one way to do it. It is tough enough to get students to the polls, despite all of the lofty enfranchisement rhetoric strewn forth during the short campaign cycle. It becomes even more difficult when the body politic votes, only to have three justices no one has really ever heard of step in and levy a hasty ruling.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Zeek Florence
Zeek
posted 4/18/08 @ 12:41 PM EST
Oooo poor choice. You guys have succeeded in pissing off the entirety of USG, rather than just McHardy. I'm probably going to start publishing a crossword, sudoku, and instant daily so you guy's become totally irrelevant now that USG brought the campus a real newspaper, the New York times. (Continued…)
Sam Tivertill
posted 4/18/08 @ 1:21 PM EST
Oh please, no one cares about USG.
usg?
posted 4/18/08 @ 6:33 PM EST
Could people please stop commenting on these articles. The DC is just going to think we actually care about all this. The elections are over. Let's move on. (Continued…)
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