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Show n Wmy f n y vljV WEDNESDAY. MAY 2. 1990 Signpost VOLUME 50. ISSUE 79 1HE r WEBER STATE COLLEGE e ;". . : ' ' ' i ' - - J ; s" - , ., .. , . V - ... v . ' . , : ' , f . - - , ..-,, ;.. - JOHN BITNER, a junior from Layton High School, practices pole vaulting at WSC's track for the state invitational this weekend. Election results questioned Former senatorial candidate asks for nullification of votes By Christine Rasmussen Staff writer of The Signpost Monday morning, Richard Bennett filed a complaint with ASWSC Supreme Court on the issue of the recent election selecting the student senators. Bennett, a natural science senatorial candidate, turned in a formal appeal requesting the election be nullified because of ambiguity in ballots, discriminative election laws, as well as election bylaws and rules not being followed by the ASWSC Election Committee. Bennett's appeal states, "Voting instructions were ambiguous, as evident by the fact that over 1000 votes were disqualified. Voters were confused by the instructions that they should vote for one candidate. Instructions should be made clearly to avoid misinterpretation." Of the record setting 1,568 ballots cast in the election on April 13, only 682 senate votes counted. Fifty-seven percent were considered invalid by the Weber County Election Committee. The ASWSC Election Process Resolution 90-38 states, "Each student is allowed 'one vote' for each senator." Weber County Chief Deputy Clerk Spencer Spokes instructed the election committee to follow the resolution. Ballots that were improperly filled out were to be considered invalid. They weren't counted in the final results. Bennett's appeal also listed a complaint against the ASWSC Election Committee for not following its own rules and bylaws. "Candidates were toldby ASWSC election chair Daren McEwen to submit pictures for the election booths so voters could visually recognize all candidates," stated Bennett. "From what I saw at the election booths, many of the photos were not displayed. "All candidates were also told by ASWSC officials that a short essay was to be submitted to them so the information could be placed in an edition of The Signpost." (See APPEAL page 15) H R H wiiTiora w Senate supports withdrawal of resolution to limit candidates By J. P. Nielson News editor of77ie Signpost The ASWSC senate voted unanimously on Monday, April 30 to support Melvin Feller's request to withdraw his controversial resolution 90-54. Feller, physically challenged senator, said people are starting to view the resolution as a personal issue, and this was not meant to be. "I have decided to withdraw the bill," said Feller. "I still think that my purpose has been accomplished; Fve opened up a lot of eyes. "It's creating some problems right now, but I will ask that next year's officers review the constitution and perhaps add this in." The resolution would have prohibited anyone with teaching or administrative affiliations from serving as an ASWSC elected official. The original resolution was challenged by Bill Vicars, a student who also teaches two sign language classes. The ASWSC supreme court found the resolution unconstitutional because proposed changes have to be made in the form of an amendment to the ASWSC constitution. Feller then reintroduced a resolution calling for a special student election to amend the constitution. The senate voted on the second resolution, and it received the two-thirds majority needed to call for a special election. The outcome of the special election resolution was questioned in the following senate meeting, and a roll call vote was ordered. It received nine votes in favor of the resolution, three against and three abstentions. In Monday's senate meeting, Feller offered to withdraw the motion. "I just cannot look at things and say that this (resolution 90-54) is the right thing," said Feller. In other senate business, resolution 90-56 sponsored by Sheri Miller, education senator, was debated and passed by the senate. The resolution calls for the purchasing of a child behavior management card display and placing it next to the women's educational resource center. "There are a significant numbers of students (with children) in stressful situations here on campus," said Miller. Holly Bauman, of the Weber-Morgan Child Abuse Center, told the senate that "57 percent of parents reported that the cards changed their behavior." "I think this is a good idea," said Brad Wilson, business senator. "Let's do something positive before this quarter is over." The $320 needed for the cards was allocated from the student senate special projects fund. The senate also voted not to support a suggested increase in student insurance to cover well baby care. Emil Hansen, dean of student administrative services, had approached the senate three weeks ago about the suggested increase. "When I first came to this senate, I was in favor of the proposed student insurance increase," said Hansen. "But now I think that maybe it's a little too much." The increase was proposed to be only two to four dollars per .student per quarter. "It still would be that for students only," said Hansen. "For a student, spouse and (See RESOLUTION page 15) - nYi - lY-'Vil- ': -feptfiS' |