2008 Woodie Awards
Brown decision upheld
Committee to hold hearing today
Brad Maxwell
News Editor
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: News
The Office of Student Life found by a 2-1 vote sufficient reason to affirm the Constitutional Council's finding that presidential candidate Alesha Brown was guilty of elections fraud and an elections violation was filed against the candidate Monday.
The three-member panel included representatives from the Office of Student Affairs, Office of Student Judicial Programs and the Office of the General Counsel. "I'm shocked," Brown said. "We've done all we can do." Brown, a third-year political science student, appealed the decision of the Constitutional Council on Thursday after the council ruled in favor of the Elections Commission's ruling that Brown had committed elections fraud. She was charged with election fraud on Feb. 18 for raffling off a $50 Blackberry cell phone using "Vote Brown for President" raffle tickets.
The code the Elections Commission said Brown violated prohibits "procuring, by the payment, delivery or promise of money, or other article of value, another to vote for or against any particular candidate or measure at any election."
Amanda Byrum, elections commissioner and a second-year English student, said the administration made the right decision.
"We made the appropriate ruling, the Constitutional made the appropriate ruling, as did Jerry Brewer and the administration," Byrum said. A violation filed Monday said an individual behind a desk in the basement computer lab of Gambrell Hall was wearing an "Alesha Brown for President" t-shirt. The code cited in the violation says "no campaign materials may be placed in any official polling location (e.g. any USC computer lab)." The complainant said the person wearing the campaign T-shirt in the lab, whether a part of Brown's official campaign staff or not, was a violation of this code.
"Alesha shall be held accountable for that person's actions," the complainant said. The name of the complainant is withheld from public reports.
"Everything that's coming in now is petty," Brown said of the violation. "It's getting ridiculous."
A hearing of the violation by the Elections Commission will be held today at 5 p.m. because a quorum of commissioners was not available Monday, Byrum said.
The results of the runoff elections will be announced after the hearing.
Brown received four infraction points by the commission last week for elections fraud. If Brown is found guilty today and receives one or more infraction points, she will be disqualified from the race.
"Everything happens for a reason," Brown said. "Last year I prayed to God and he worked it out. If he wants me to be Student Body President, then I'll be it."
The three-member panel included representatives from the Office of Student Affairs, Office of Student Judicial Programs and the Office of the General Counsel. "I'm shocked," Brown said. "We've done all we can do." Brown, a third-year political science student, appealed the decision of the Constitutional Council on Thursday after the council ruled in favor of the Elections Commission's ruling that Brown had committed elections fraud. She was charged with election fraud on Feb. 18 for raffling off a $50 Blackberry cell phone using "Vote Brown for President" raffle tickets.
The code the Elections Commission said Brown violated prohibits "procuring, by the payment, delivery or promise of money, or other article of value, another to vote for or against any particular candidate or measure at any election."
Amanda Byrum, elections commissioner and a second-year English student, said the administration made the right decision.
"We made the appropriate ruling, the Constitutional made the appropriate ruling, as did Jerry Brewer and the administration," Byrum said. A violation filed Monday said an individual behind a desk in the basement computer lab of Gambrell Hall was wearing an "Alesha Brown for President" t-shirt. The code cited in the violation says "no campaign materials may be placed in any official polling location (e.g. any USC computer lab)." The complainant said the person wearing the campaign T-shirt in the lab, whether a part of Brown's official campaign staff or not, was a violation of this code.
"Alesha shall be held accountable for that person's actions," the complainant said. The name of the complainant is withheld from public reports.
"Everything that's coming in now is petty," Brown said of the violation. "It's getting ridiculous."
A hearing of the violation by the Elections Commission will be held today at 5 p.m. because a quorum of commissioners was not available Monday, Byrum said.
The results of the runoff elections will be announced after the hearing.
Brown received four infraction points by the commission last week for elections fraud. If Brown is found guilty today and receives one or more infraction points, she will be disqualified from the race.
"Everything happens for a reason," Brown said. "Last year I prayed to God and he worked it out. If he wants me to be Student Body President, then I'll be it."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 25
God
posted 2/26/08 @ 12:31 AM EST
Look Alesha, I only "worked it out" last year so you would stop bothering me all the time. That didn't seem to work however, so I'm cutting you loose. (Continued…)
Buddha
posted 2/26/08 @ 1:08 AM EST
And don't come crying to me either. Desire is the root of all suffering, you know, so your longing for the Presidential Suite isn't going to move me. (Continued…)
Brahma, Vishnu, & Shiva
posted 2/26/08 @ 1:10 AM EST
Count us out.
??
posted 2/26/08 @ 8:58 AM EST
Is Alesha appealing to the NAACP? I hope so!
Tracey
posted 2/26/08 @ 9:59 AM EST
to: "??"
I'm sorry... I don't see any reason for an appeal to be sent to the NAACP. I'm confused...
Well, hello there
posted 2/26/08 @ 2:19 PM EST
I agree with Tracey. Why call the NAACP?
MZ GEECHIE
MZ GEECHIE
posted 2/26/08 @ 3:00 PM EST
WELL ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS ALESHA IS BEYOND CERTIFIED FOR THIS POSITION..IVE KNOWN HER FOR YEARS N KNOW THAT WHEN COMPARED TO RECENT PRESIDENTS SHE IS FAR MO QUALIFIED. (Continued…)
Karma
posted 2/26/08 @ 9:44 PM EST
Maybe if Alesha hadn't blatantly cheated last year in addition to this year she wouldn't have to worry about 'leaving it in the hands of God' and her fellow students would have more respect for her. (Continued…)
LOL
posted 2/27/08 @ 12:59 PM EST
Ok... first of all, im not the same person... second of all, God has a sense of humor and he's laughing right now... it's not a sin unless you are honestly trying to take the place of God. (Continued…)
Philip
posted 2/27/08 @ 3:59 PM EST
FYI is probably Alesha Brown. I hope the people on here defending her aren't a representative of what the majority ofher supporters are like because that's just sad. (Continued…)
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