The Berkeley Beacon

Issue date: 4/6/06 Section: News

Media Credit: Samantha Baime

Jamal Barone, a junior marketing communication major who received the majority of votes for Student Government Association (SGA) executive president in last week's election, is undergoing a campaign investigation to determine whether or not he can assume the office, according to SGA Elections Commissioner Brad Dye.

The investigation was determined necessary after Barone's opponent and SGA Chief Justice David Vaughan filed a charge against him, said Dye, a senior organizational and political communication major.

Dye would not specify what the charge was or what the investigation will include.

"We will conduct a fair and expedient investigation," Dye said.

There are a number of violations that could result in a candidate being disqualified, but there is no precedent for what calls for disqualification, he said.

"It will be up to the judgment of the people who hold the hearing," Dye said.

Associate Dean of Students Sharon Duffy will preside over Barone's hearing after she and Dye informally collect testimony, Dye said.

The investigation could have a number of outcomes, including a finding of no wrongdoing, a finding of wrongdoing not resulting in disqualification or a finding of wrongdoing that does result in disqualification. In that case, runner-up Vaughan, a junior organizational and political communication major, would be named SGA president, Dye said at Tuesday's SGA meeting.

While the office of president is contested, the SGA did elect a new executive board that includes Executive Vice President-elect Andy Michaels, a junior TV/video major, and Executive Treasurer-elect Emily Patrick, a junior writing, literature and publishing major.

The office of SGA president was the only contested position; all other offices had only one ballot candidate or were open only to write-in candidates, Dye said.

Current SGA President Kirstin Daniel, a senior theatre education major, has told The Beacon that increasing voter turnout and spreading awareness about SGA were her main priorities this year. About 350 ballots were cast for executive president last week, while 509 ballots were cast for the same office last spring.

Daniel said the SGA formulated a good election plan, which included a candidate debate night, posters and advertising, but felt it was not executed to its fullest potential.

Freshman film major Sal Valone said the SGA's efforts did not result in on-campus awareness.

Continued...

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