SGA votes to look into tainted Homecoming Queen votes
Julie Vrazel and Kelsey Fitzgibbon
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: News
At Wednesday's Student Government Association House of Representatives meeting, the council decided to continue investigation into the illegal voting activity involved in the Homecoming Queen Election.
Student Body President Maggie Moore opened the discussion by explaining the illegal voting activity and said the election committee hand counted the votes to ensure fairness.
"Brittany Brady was the legitimate, legitimate Homecoming Queen," Moore said. "Just to clear her name, she was the clear winner."
The university identification numbers were suspected to be taken from university and faculty Web sites or from grade sheets posted in class, according to Karole Schroeder, web designer and developer. Students were also suspected of obtaining UIDs through Facebook and word-of-mouth.
Moore said it is against university policy for one student to use another student's UID for any reason, with or without permission.
She petitioned the council saying, "The question today is: should we do something about what has already been done?"
The SGA Senate voted to further the investigation in their Monday meeting.
"We will do as much research as we technically and possibly can, if that's what we decide to do," Moore said.
Representatives were then given the opportunity to discuss the matter and have their questions answered. Dana Moore, assistant dean of students in the Office of Student Judicial Affairs, told the council if the individuals were discovered, the punishments could range from suspension, expulsion or probation to blocking the student(s) enrollment or prohibiting participation in any university organization. The final decision will be left to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs.
The majority voted in favor of continuing the investigation, while only a handful of representatives opposed.
UIDs give students access to all aspects of the university.
"The UID is almost as big as a social security number in defining a student at this university," Schroeder said.
Moore said she and Ely Borrero, student body vice president, will be meeting with Information Technology Services later in the week to discuss the investigation.
Student Body President Maggie Moore opened the discussion by explaining the illegal voting activity and said the election committee hand counted the votes to ensure fairness.
"Brittany Brady was the legitimate, legitimate Homecoming Queen," Moore said. "Just to clear her name, she was the clear winner."
The university identification numbers were suspected to be taken from university and faculty Web sites or from grade sheets posted in class, according to Karole Schroeder, web designer and developer. Students were also suspected of obtaining UIDs through Facebook and word-of-mouth.
Moore said it is against university policy for one student to use another student's UID for any reason, with or without permission.
She petitioned the council saying, "The question today is: should we do something about what has already been done?"
The SGA Senate voted to further the investigation in their Monday meeting.
"We will do as much research as we technically and possibly can, if that's what we decide to do," Moore said.
Representatives were then given the opportunity to discuss the matter and have their questions answered. Dana Moore, assistant dean of students in the Office of Student Judicial Affairs, told the council if the individuals were discovered, the punishments could range from suspension, expulsion or probation to blocking the student(s) enrollment or prohibiting participation in any university organization. The final decision will be left to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs.
The majority voted in favor of continuing the investigation, while only a handful of representatives opposed.
UIDs give students access to all aspects of the university.
"The UID is almost as big as a social security number in defining a student at this university," Schroeder said.
Moore said she and Ely Borrero, student body vice president, will be meeting with Information Technology Services later in the week to discuss the investigation.
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