SEC responds to complaints against Union slate

After initially penalizing Student Union election slate The Rhettvolution for alleged campaign rule violations, the Student Elections Committee rescinded its decision on Wednesday, according to a PDF on the SEC site under  “Complaints, Violations and Findings.”

A complaint filed to the SEC on Tuesday said that a video posted by The Rhettvolution on YouTube demonstrated “campaigning using physical media taking place before the start of the campaign period.” In a six to zero vote, the SEC determined that it would charge The Rhettvolution with 200 violation points for obstructing campaign rules.

Later that day, The Rhettvolution candidate for vice president Matthew Bae, a College of Communication junior, filed an appeal stating that there was a typo in the date and time of the YouTube video. His appeal said the flash mob video was recorded after the commencement of the campaign, making the material legitimate.

With a four to zero vote and two abstentions, the SEC decided Wednesday that “its original ruling was in error” and rescinded the 200 point sanction.

The SEC received a complaint that The Rhettvolution’s campaign material demonstrated a “knowing infringement on other students’ right and ability to campaign,” referring to a photograph of the slate’s campaign material covering other fliers.

The Rhettvolution was not penalized in a four to zero decision, with two abstentions. The SEC members said the use of free expression boards is not governed by any formal policies.

Also on Wednesday, Bae filed a formal complaint. He claimed that several of The Rhettvolution’s campaign materials had been covered up on Tuesday, which he said violated the SEC code prohibiting “the defacement, removal or blocking of any campaign materials.”

In response, the SEC stated that it was unclear if the slate’s material had been “blocked by malicious intent” and found no violation at the time. However, if anyone associated with a slate defaces, blocks or removes another group’s material the penalty ranges from 50 to 200 violation points, according to SEC’s website.

An anonymous student submitted another complaint on April 12 claiming that members of The Rhettvolution were “harassing students at the top of Warren Towers escalators,” violating Lifebook code against campaigning in dining halls.

The SEC made a four to zero decision with two abstentions stating that no violation occurred since the security area on the fourth floor of Warren Towers is “clearly not inside a dining hall” and Lifebook does not prohibit campaigning in public spaces.