Opinion
 

Staff Editorial

                            Matt Dulin    Barrett Goldsmith    Zach Lee 
                Jim Parsons            Christian Schmidt           Blake Whitaker

Two steps back

According to student observers, members of the Student Voice party violated the Student Government Association Election Code during the SGA general election.

And, according to the Election Commission, they should not be punished for doing so.

After a three-hour meeting Monday evening, the commissioners and Student Voice candidate Alysia Minor, who will face UH 4 U candidate Matt Bell in a runoff election for the SGA vice presidency this week, reached an understanding that lifted all sanctions on Student Voice. The commission previously ruled that, because of the party's campaign tactics during the March 10 and 11 general election, no one but Minor would be allowed to campaign during the runoff.

Among Student Voice's alleged Election Code violations were: campaigning within 50 feet of a designated polling place, attempting to coerce students into voting straight-ticket for Student Voice and using Bauer College of Business laptop computers to solicit votes within Melcher Hall.

It is surprising that the commission not only relaxed the sanctions against Student Voice, but will allow 100 people to campaign on Minor's behalf. Or is it? Every year Student Voice has run for SGA offices, multiple complaints have been filed regarding the party's deceptive campaign practices, and every year, the Election Commission has let the party off with a slap of the wrist -- or, in this case, a hearty slap on the back.

So what's the problem here? It seems the Election Code is largely to blame. Even in its rewritten form, the code is heavy on loopholes and light on punishment. As far as individuals, it would be unfair to lay blame on the commission or Minor without knowing exactly what went on in the closed-door meeting.

All we know is there must have been some persuasive arguments presented for the commission to reverse its earlier decision -- when it had the rules on its side.