Mustang Daily Staff Report
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At least four students have confirmed they are planning to run for president of Associated Students, Inc. (ASI), but student government officials say they run the risk of being disqualified if their intentions appear in writing.
Though the students are allowed to speak in front of large groups, such as classes, public relations representative Michelle Broom and election committee chair Kate Calkins said if someone writes about the students in a public forum, their campaign could be disqualified.
“If they talk about their candidacy, knowing it has the possibility to be printed and it gets printed, then they are accountable,” Broom said.
Calkins said the rule exists to promote fairness between candidates.
“It’s been this way for a while,” she said. “It’s just to keep fairness between all candidates — to not hurt anyone who might run for a position and hasn’t even decided if they’re running for a position yet.”
Broom said if the students’ intentions to run appear in a newspaper or blog, for example, a committee led by Calkins could disqualify the candidate.
According to ASI guidelines, no one running is allowed to engage in a “non-verbal public display or distribution of specific information about any ASI candidate.”
The ASI officials said under those bylaws, students are allowed to tell others about their intention to run for office. But if the students — or anyone else — write about it, potential candidates could face “disciplinary action.”
ASI will release candidates’ names on March 2, Broom said, one day after registration papers are due. Written records of candidates’ platforms and goals will be allowed on April 15.
Three of the four students who told Mustang Daily they intend to run for president are men, which opens the possibility of ASI having its first male president since 2008. If all four students collect signatures and file candidacy paperwork, it would also be the first presidential election since 2009 with more than two students running.
ASI’s development and recruitment committee is meeting today to discuss the policy, said political science sophomore Joi Sullivan, a spokesperson for one of the candidate’s campaigns.
Sean McMinn contributed to this staff report.