IS THE I.- I. ELECTION LECTION 1 w f OVER 0 An investigation is underway concerning the campaign finances of the party By David Finch and Dan Staff Writers REDWOOD REDWOOD- With the student body officer elections over and the winners announced doubt still remains concerning the fairness fairness fairo fair fair- o ness of the elections and exactly what the final outcome will be While members have already been sworn into office neither Synergy nor independent ca candidate Bentley Mitchell afe ae ready to concede victory Reform U Seems to tobe bethe be bethe the cry by many students who still have lingering questions about the elections The questions questions questions ques ques- are regarding the fairness and equal treatment of all an parties in this past election Was the entire campaign campaign campaign cam cam- pre-determined pre or was it totally fair and impartial The answers point toward the party being fated to win at all costs According to the Standing Rules for the 2002 2003 Student Body Elections of rule 59 March 15 the preliminary audit of your Campaign Financial Form is due to the chair by noon In this rule there is also a reference to rule which states the failure to submit the Campaign Financial Form on time will automatically disqualify dis- dis disqualify disqualify dis dis- qualify a party or individual from the race U Not only was the time n J of the March meeting meeting changed from noon to 1 the party showed without their forms According to rule 62 a running total must be kept The Chair reserves the right to review any at any time This means Mike Dawes Former Executive Vice President has the right Tight to request the from any party at any anytime anytime anytime time and any failure to comply by a party is grounds for No charges were filed against the party for their lack of form submittal at the time The Chair also requires the be handed over on March at These forms were handed in by the Synergy party and Bentley Mitchell but not by the party an extension was given by Dawes requiring the form fonn by bythe bythe bythe the following morning President Scott Stratton said this was to allow the party to campaign im UD H r- r until the time time of the p polls polls polls-clos- y ing While the Chair ha has the the right to overlook the elections and to interpret election rules rule states The Chair will not campaign or show favor for any individual or party Likewise mentioned in rule The chair is assigned to oversee the entire election process and to change the rules as needed However the Chair can only change the rules prior to the first day of active campaigning campaigning campaigning cam cam- according to rule Once the campaigns begin the rules must stay the same Before the actual campaigns campaigns campaigns cam cam- started each candidate attended a mandatory meeting to review the rules and regulations of the elections Each individual signed a form in January pledging pledging pledging ing to be ethical in regard to the campaign rules The point was drilled home that failure to deliver the campaign forms on time would be grounds for disqualification Said Bentley Mitchell At the meeting it was made known if any was off by any amount at all the party or individual would be disqualified When the finished Campaign Financial Forms were finally turned over to the Chair a meeting meeting meeting meet meet- ing was held by the Elections Committee to review their racy If there is anything wrong with t their finan financial ial statements statements state state- ments he they wi will l not be qualified and or or r allowed to fo win Says Says the meetings meeting's official minutes log Jog Despite having numerous errors and omissions all aU the campaign See ELECTION on page 6 Could there be reform for the election process at budgets including were passed unanimously by the committee One such omission was made by the party in their failure to account for their use of a campaign manager Even after it was stated a campaign campaign campaign cam cam- manager clearly had to be included on the groups group's it was nowhere to be found on the form It seems clear either the mention was intentionally left off the or it was an enormous site over-site by the Election Committee in failing to notice its absence and still voting voting voting vot vot- ing in favor of the forms form's racy The election is still far from over as new evidence of wrongdoing surfaces daily A reform may be in the works for forthe forthe forthe the whole of student government government government govern govern- ment at Salt Lake Community College As the light continues to be shed on new areas of the elections questions continue to tobe tobe tobe be answered