March 17
Habash Disqualification: Nirvana Habash is disqualified from her Student Government presidential campaign in a three-to-one vote by the Board of Elections for violating election rules. Two of Habash’s friends sent out an e-mail over the School of Public Affairs’ Leadership Program’s listserv in support of Habash’s presidential campaign. This e-mail violated Article IV Section 10 of the BOE rules that says candidates may not send out campaign related information on non-campaign related mediums. Habash appealed the decision the same day.
March 18
Judicial Board nullifies the BOE’s decision: The Judicial Board throws out the BOE’s decision on the basis that Habash was not given due process. She has not been alerted to the complaint filed against her until after the BOE had disqualified her. The meeting started at 11 p.m. Wednesday and lasted until 2 a.m. Thursday.
March 19
MacCracken endorses Bronstein: Current SG President Andy MacCracken endorses SG presidential candidate Nate Bronstein in a YouTube video posted to Bronstein’s Facebook page. With an American flag as his backdrop, MacCracken sings to the tune of Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” about his support for Bronstein. “He’d do such a great job,” MacCracken sings. “No, I won’t hesitate to vote for Nate ... I know he’ll do a much better job than me.”
Habash calls for misconduct charges against acting BOE chair: Habash files misconduct charges against Erika Zois, the BOE chair at the time of her disqualification. Habash sends a letter to Student Activities Director Karen Gerlach outlining Zois’ misconduct in her temporary position as the BOE chair. Habash threatens to file Student Conduct Code violations against Zois, claiming that her actions constituted intimidation and harassment. The charges were never filed, Habash says. The BOE rules that Habash’s name should be taken off the ballot, but that she was still allowed to campaign.
BOE chair resigns: Zois steps down as temporary chair of the BOE. Bikram Kohli assumes the position. Kohli’s appointment will go to the Senate for confirmation after the elections. Zois remains in her position as chair of the Judicial Board.
Rosenstein declines to run as write-in candidate: SG Presidential candidate Seth Rosenstein says he will not take his name off of the ballot, as he and his fellow presidential candidates were called on to do by The Eagle’s editorial board. Rosenstein also says the controversy around these SG elections “makes him sick.” The Eagle’s editorial board had written earlier that day that because of the events surrounding Habash’s disqualification, the only way to have a fair election would be if all presidential candidates ran as write-in candidates.
Bronstein allegedly sends mass e-mail for campaign: an e-mail from votefornatebronstein@gmail.com was sent out to a random assortment of e-mail addresses and listservs, including SPA freshman and sophomores, AUSG executives, the cabinet and the Undergraduate Senate. Bronstein claims that he did not send the e-mail, and he files a formal complaint with the BOE.
March 21
Bronstein e-mail ruled not a violation: The BOE rules that the e-mail sent by someone claiming to be connected to the Bronstein campaign did not violate BOE rules. In the BOE ruling, Kohli said that the BOE “does not have the jurisdiction, or the authority, under current election regulations, to take action against the perpetrator.” However, Kohli also states that “for future elections, the current regulations need to incorporate that sending out an e-mail to recipients who have not signed up to receive said notifications constitutes as a violation.”
