Coxgate

[ghoststrider]

(If discussing the recent scandal in the SA election is prohibited by the community rules, then the mods should feel free to delete this, I won't mind. (Just, you know, make sure to make a little comment about this so I can see it in my Gmail and not do it again

Comments

[seiresea]

I think I need a clearer story of what exactly went down. I've got an idea, but I don't think I quite get it.

(of course I'm not a SUNY Albany student anymore, but this sounds interesting so I'm curious)

[ghoststrider]

From what I understand, SA Senator Cassidy made a bribe offer to Presidential candidate Giovanni Cox. Apparently, if Cox was to drop from the race, Cassidy would increase funds to one of Cox's clubs and allow Cox to have some other position (I can't remember which.) Whether or not Cox agreed to it is unclear, although many think so.

I would link to the ASP article but their website won't load for some reason.

[coldstilllife]

I didn't even know there was an election. In fact, I wasn't really aware that there was a student gov't here.

[ghoststrider]

ROFLMAO.

Yeah, apparently we have one.

[lynne_marie]

Cox was kicked out because the SA Supreme Court found his campaign guilty of giving out false information in order to sabotage another campaign. As a result, John Teich was kicked out also because the court found the Mike Cassidy situation to be comparable. The court felt that the actions of 3rd parties in both campaigns were similar.

I was Cox's legal council for the court case, and am in the awful picture on the cover of the ASP.

And as far as the power of the student association, they control the 2 million dollar pile of student activity fee money. They fund Parkfest, the LGBT conference, student groups and intramural sports. The Student Activity Fee is the most important fee to students because it is what provides activities on campus. Prior to the activity fee, students werent allowed most political activities on campus, and had no selection over any of the groups. They also own Dippikill, the camping ground available to all students and Alumni.

[ghoststrider]

Wait, Teich was booted because "the Mike Cassidy situation" was "comparable?" WTF? I don't understand.

[lynne_marie]

yes. Giovanni Cox was kicked off the ballot because a 3rd party (still unknown) handed out flyers that slandered another candidate. The court saw this as campaign sabotage with malicious intent, and attatched it to Cox's campaign. Mike Cassidy attempted to bribe Cox with Student Activity Fee money to get off the ballot and endorse John Teich. The court saw this as a 3rd party trying to sabotage the elections for John Teich.

either way re-elections are today, and Dan Truchan is the only one on the ballot. He is also the most honest person i know.

[ghoststrider]

If "Abstain" gets more votes than Truchan, what happens?

[ghoststrider]

I explained it as best I could here.

[irisira03]

"University politics are so vicious precisely because the stakes are so small."

[ghoststrider]

Hmm. I suppose that is a truism.

Which makes it all the more sad.