Issue Date: 5/11/09
An ASG divided
During student elections, sides drawn around senator
The Associated Student Government has split into two factions over the current vice president, who is running for president of the Associated Student Government for the 2009-2010 school year.
The rift escalated last week to claims of voter tampering that held up the ASG election results that were supposed to be released May 8.
The controversy started two weeks ago with rumors that Vice President Claudia Duran was going to be impeached by senators at an ASG meeting.
Sherry Titus, director of the Office of Student Affairs, said she had no impeachable evidence.
"The information that I have does not warrant an impeachment," Titus said at the meeting May 6. "If anything it warrants a criminal act."
Titus would not comment further, citing personnel matters. But she did caution senators about starting rumors.
"You can set yourself up for slander, harassment and discrimination. Impeaching someone can't be personal, it has to be business."
As of press time, there is no bill of impeachment against Duran. For her part, Duran wouldn't explain what caused the controversy.
"My personal business is my personal business," Duran said. "Just as any other senator's business is their personal business."
Duran added that she is running for president because "I am all about the students."
On May 4, the polls opened and the tensions in the ASG hit an all-time high, with accusations of illegal voting practices being raised against Andrew Bissell, the other candidate for ASG president, and those campaigning for him.
Shaun Briggs, a former senator, is an advocate for Bissell's campaign and among those under scrutiny by the Office of Student Affairs, Briggs said.
Briggs denied wrongdoing and said his goal is to get the best person in office.
"It's only anti-Claudia in one aspect: None of us support her," Briggs said. "The president of ASG does not support her. None of the senators support her. That should tell you something."
For an update on the ASG elections, check out our latest article:
ASG controversy sparks rumors
The rift escalated last week to claims of voter tampering that held up the ASG election results that were supposed to be released May 8.
The controversy started two weeks ago with rumors that Vice President Claudia Duran was going to be impeached by senators at an ASG meeting.
Sherry Titus, director of the Office of Student Affairs, said she had no impeachable evidence.
"The information that I have does not warrant an impeachment," Titus said at the meeting May 6. "If anything it warrants a criminal act."
Titus would not comment further, citing personnel matters. But she did caution senators about starting rumors.
"You can set yourself up for slander, harassment and discrimination. Impeaching someone can't be personal, it has to be business."
As of press time, there is no bill of impeachment against Duran. For her part, Duran wouldn't explain what caused the controversy.
"My personal business is my personal business," Duran said. "Just as any other senator's business is their personal business."
Duran added that she is running for president because "I am all about the students."
On May 4, the polls opened and the tensions in the ASG hit an all-time high, with accusations of illegal voting practices being raised against Andrew Bissell, the other candidate for ASG president, and those campaigning for him.
Shaun Briggs, a former senator, is an advocate for Bissell's campaign and among those under scrutiny by the Office of Student Affairs, Briggs said.
Briggs denied wrongdoing and said his goal is to get the best person in office.
"It's only anti-Claudia in one aspect: None of us support her," Briggs said. "The president of ASG does not support her. None of the senators support her. That should tell you something."
For an update on the ASG elections, check out our latest article:
ASG controversy sparks rumors
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