Inside the SU: Board of Elections Out of Bounds

November 8th, 2001

By Isaac Botier
When I asked the Board of Elections if I could see the platforms of the freshman and sophomore candidates, I was told that the information I requested was "confidential" and only written up for the Board of Elections. What the BOE has failed to realize since its inception at the beginning of this year, is that it is in fact an open committee.

The BOE is made up of five students: three seniors, a junior, and a sophomore. All five members of the committee were chosen under peculiar circumstances. Matt Baer, class of 2001, started the Elections Committee last year and chose the four other members. Jenny Mathews and Eddie Kalletta are still on the committee, now renamed the Board of Elections.

Originally Baer was supposed to interview applicants to fill the three open spots on the Elections Committee. However, due to senioritis, he decided not to do the interviews. Therefore, Frank Mazzetti, last year's COSA, chose three seniors to be in charge of conducting the interviews.

Refusing to grant a member of the press access to candidates' platforms is just one example of the BOE's sanctimonious and power-hungry antics. At the beginning of the year, BOE members refused to discuss what had transpired at their meetings with the Student Union. Their reason: the SU secretary was not present at the meeting; therefore, they did not have to disclose any details.

Then, instead of objectively controlling the elections and, specifically, campaigning, the BOE decided to interview each of the candidates, and then write up their own literature. This gives them the power to interpret the candidates' platforms, instead of using their actual words. In response to opposition to their policy, the BOE decided to let the candidates see and approve the literature before it was to be sent out.

The members of the Board of Elections tried to prove that they are a strong and autonomous committee by not letting anyone else have any knowledge of election proceedings. They did both the candidates and the elections a major injustice.