Campaign e-mail raises suspicions

Campaigning disputes filed Friday question the validity of Sarah Khalifa’s election as president of the Student Government Association.

Khalifa, current SGA vice president, garnered 162 votes, with challengers Rusty Kuciemba and Jamie Newburn drawing 81 and 27, respectively.

Kuciemba filed a formal complaint Friday morning with the Judicial Review Board alleging University administration unlawfully aided Khalifa’s campaign by allowing use of an administrator’s e-mail account for campaign purposes.

SGA bylaws state any complaint related to either a candidate or a candidate’s campaign, or the election process must be submitted in writing to the Judicial Review Board within 24 hours of the alleged violation, but no later than noon on the day following elections.

SGA election dispute

The board is composed of five students who cannot also be serving as executive officers or senators. Board members review the complaint, make a decision and take appropriate corrective measures. The Board’s decision is final, according to the SGA Constitution.

Student organization leaders and advisers received an e-mail sent through the GetConnected e-mail system April 5, with the subject line, “Sarah Khalifa for SGA President.”  The Talon obtained a copy of the e-mail, which contains the following message:

“My name is Sara Khalifa, and I am running for Student Government President. I was wondering if you would be willing to have me come speak at your next organization meeting about my candidacy. Elections are April 14 and 15, so I am available any time before then. The purpose of my visit is to only inform students about my campaign, and I shouldn’t take up but a few minutes. Thank you for your consideration!”

Kuciemba said this e-mail violates SGA Constitution Bylaws and gave Khalifa’s campaign an unfair advantage.
“The e-mail in question gave Khalifa’s campaign a huge head start in contacting student organizations, almost an entire week,” Kuciemba said.

He sent the following e-mail to Ona Tolliver, director of Student Life and Leadership, on April 6, after a supporter brought Khalifa’s e-mail to his attention.

“Hi my name is Rusty Kuciemba, and I am running for SGA president. A supporter of mine informed me Mrs. Khalifa used a school administrator’s e-mail account to contact all student organization leaders on this campus lobbying them to vote for her. The message was sent with high importance, and on 4/5/2010 1:08pm. My question is…is it allowed for a SGA Presidential Candidate who currently is the Vice President of SGA to use a schools administrative e-mail account to lobby for votes?”

Kuciemba said he did not receive a reply from Tolliver that day, but did receive e-mail sent by Rene Hernandez, SGA parliamentarian, to all the candidates. The e-mail reads in part as follows:

“Candidates,

Due to miscommunication within the Office of Student Life and Leadership (SL&L), a one time opportunity is being offered to you. If you are interested in speaking to the student organizations on campus about your campaign, SL&L has agreed to send your contact information to the officers of currently registered student organizations!

If you would like your information forwarded, send whatever contact information you would like distributed TO ME by 8:00 PM on Thursday, April 8th. Please be advised that if you send your contact information to anyone other than me, your information will NOT be included in the e-mail.”

Kuciemba said he took advantage of the opportunity and submitted his information as requested.

“We didn’t have access to even try to get that opportunity until we brought it to their attention,”Kuciemba said.

He said he received e-mail from Tolliver on April 7, which stated the following:

“This miscommunication regarding the announcement related to the SGA position falls solely on Student Life and Leadership and not the candidate. Student Life and Leadership does not campaign on behalf of any candidate, however the information was sent in error from this office.”

Khalifa said her campaign e-mail was sent as a result of miscommunication between herself and “someone” within the SL&L office.

“I had gone up to someone in Student Life requesting information on behalf of myself. I wanted to go talk to student organizations I’m not familiar with, and I figured they had a list compiled,” Khalifa said.

Khalifa said the person asked her to e-mail what she wanted to say.

“I typed it up and sent it to her, and she sent it out to everyone,” Khalifa said.

Khalifa met with seven or eight organizations after the e-mail was sent, about half of which contacted her after receiving the e-mail, she said.

“When Director Tolliver found out, she said it shouldn’t have happened, but since it did we’ll give everyone the chance,” Khalifa said.

Kuciemba received notice about the opportunity and e-mailed Tolliver to inquire about timing and content of the new e-mails. Tolliver replied the new e-mails would be sent no later than 10 a.m. on Friday, April 9, and said it will be identical to the original e-mail.

“They offered the same access a week later, which is kind of unnerving,” Kuciemba said.

He submitted his information and the new e-mails were sent at 9:15 a.m. Friday, April 9.

He said he then chose to focus on his campaign rather than pursue the issue further.

Khalifa won the April 14-15 election with twice the number of votes as Kuciemba received. Newburn finished third.

Kuciemba’s filed his complaint in digital form with Parliamentarian Hernandez on Thursday April 15. Hernandez then forwarded it to members of the judicial board for review. Kuciemba filed a written copy with SL&L on Friday.

“The JB must decide (by a simple majority vote) whether to hear the case or not,” Hernandez said in the e-mail.
Khalifa said she believes the election was fair and the number of votes tells whom the students wanted.

“I won based on fairness. If he [Kuciemba] feels differently, he is entitled to his right to dispute it,” Khalifa said.
Results are still pending, but Kuciemba said he hopes his complaint makes a difference in future campaigns.
“Ultimately, I just want to ensure that it won’t happen again,” he said.