Opinion
 

Staff Editorial

Matthew Dulin    Geronimo Rodriguez      Cara Sarelli          Lisa Street

Point of Order

The Hearing Board meeting to determine the guilt of Student Government Association President Dawona Miller was a resounding failure. A complete and total overhaul of the election code must be undertaken to ensure that such a miscarriage of justice does not occur again.

Miller was found "not responsible" in the case of an election complaint from challenger Nick Somarakis that alleged Miller used student-funded materials to pay for her re-election campaign in March. 

And because Miller was able to obfuscate Vice President Jon Quintanillais allegations with cries of a Machiavellian power-play ­ because the witness expected to corroborate the VP didnit show up to testify ­ the decision may have been prudent. 

The Hearing Board (three of whom are SGA appointees) declared themselves unable to punish Miller for violating the election code by forging her financial documents. Miller admitted violating the election code during the hearing, but because this charge was not part of the complaint the Board let Miller slide. 

Also complicating the matter was the format of the Hearing Board. While perhaps fine for determining who cheated on a Physics test, it flat-out doesnit work for dealing with allegations of election improprieties. 

Miller was never sworn in, because the Board has no method of ensuring honest testimony. There was also no way of compelling testimony, which significantly eased Milleris burden. She seemed to plead the fifth whenever she was faced with a question she didnit like.

That brings us to the biggest problem regarding election complaints. The lack of the fourth estate to report on the allegations and statements being made. Somarakis first learned of the possible wrong-doing through a Daily Cougar article, yet the Cougar was blocked from attending the hearing.

Students have a vested interest in watching their leaders worm their way out of trouble.

Yet again SGA needs to redo the election code and develop a way to put some teeth into the Hearing Board as far as election complaints are concerned.


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