SGA Election Director’s decision on gift card usage in election campaign taken to Supreme Court

  The Student Government Association (SGA) Supreme Court met on April 14 for an oral argument debating the usage of gift cards in election campaigning.

  Co-petitioners Andrew Tracey and Morgen Foster appealed the Election Director Aubrey Bass’ decision to not penalize President-elect Michael Viermann for raffling a $20 gift card through a mass email to encourage students to vote in the election.

  Foster, a second-year law student, argued that Viermann’s email could be misinterpreted as requiring students to vote for him in order to be included in the raffle, although it wasn’t expressly stated. 

  Tracey and his co-petitioner are “not at all calling for the election to be overturned,” stressing the importance of changes to the organization of future elections.

  “I agree that there is a very limited election code and I’d love to see more expansive measures in the future. To avoid not only this but conflict in general,” Viermann said.

  Viermann won the presidency by 535 votes. His raffle had 22 student entries.

  “I mean, Michael won. But we do think that the disciplinary action was inadequate and could be changed,” Tracey said.

  The question of how the gift card was paid for was brought forth by Supreme Court Justice Doug Grace. Bass argued that Student Activity Fee Committee (SAFC) funds were not used for Viermann’s campaign.

  Groups running for election are allowed a limit of $100 in personal spending. Viermann’s $20 gift card was accounted for in his campaign budget.

  “It was his own money. Keep bringing up SAFC guidelines all you want, it doesn’t matter,” said Bass, a sophomore studying psychology.

  Supreme Court Justice Grace said the court would have a decision by April 20.

  “I just hope that the justices do what they think is the just decision,” Foster said.

  Current legislation regarding election reform is currently pending in the SGA senate, after encouragement from Dean of Students Todd Wells.

Editor’s note: 

A story posted on April 13 about this topic was taken down due to incorrect information. This is an updated report.

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