Controversy taints SGA election
Scanlon wins 51.3 to 48.7 percent despite sanction; Gamboa appeal denied • Election problems include improper votes, early poll closing, student apathy
Patrick Stevenson
Editor-in-Chief
Erika Breese
This sign went unheeded by 82 percent of the student body.
The new triumvirate of the Xavier Student Government Association will enter office amid a maelstrom of controversy, voting irregularities, campaign violations and disappointing voter turnout.
The victorious trio, President-Elect Craig Scanlon, Legislative Vice President-Elect Carter Johnson and Administrative Vice President-Elect Josh Badall defeated Esteban Gamboa, Chris Hale and Bianca Callejas by a vote total of 593-554. The Scanlon ticket was docked 30 votes for violating the elections code.
The elections code violation, which has become a hotly contested issue within SGA, occurred on the morning of Sunday, Feb. 10, when, as part of an SGA and X-treme fans event, the Scanlon ticket, clad in their yellow campaign T-shirts, distributed Red Bull and pizza to students entering the men’s basketball game in Cintas Center.
According to The Board of Elections Chair Katy Baldwin, this was “apparent and perceived campaigning,” as many of the students entering the game assumed that the pizza and energy drink distribution was part of the Scanlon ticket’s campaign.
Gamboa, Scanlon’s opponent in the election, felt that the 30 vote sanction was too light of a punishment, and appealed the Board of Elections decision. The appeal was heard before the Student Senate on Feb. 18, and after tense deliberation, was denied.
The appeal was only one of several irregularities that marred the SGA elections.
The closing time of the polls also caused some controversy. Many students have complained that the polls closed at 6:45 p.m. on Feb. 12, 15 minutes before they were scheduled to.
Baldwin said that the polls did in fact close at 7 p.m., and that any discrepancy in the poll closing time resulted from unsynchronized clocks. This statement contradicts claims made by several students that they were unable to vote in the election during the last 15 minutes of the voting period.
Yet another glitch in the electoral process was the ability of many non-students, specifically recent graduates and transfer students, to cast votes in the election. This was brought to the attention of SGA officials by Newswire staffers during the voting period, and steps were taken to assure no illegitimate votes were counted.
Voter turnout was also disappointing. Only 1,198 students cast their vote online, which Senate Coordinator Jennifer Downing deemed “horrible.” The total voter turnout was barely double the voter turnout for the freshmen senate elections this fall.
The low voter turnout means that the Scanlon ticket will be entering office with the support of only nine percent of the Xavier student body.
“It’s tough to claim that you represent the student body of Xavier when less than 10 percent of them voted for you,” said an SGA official who spoke with the Newswire under condition of anonymity. “I’m worried that this voter turnout represents a serious disconnect between SGA and the student body.”
However, none of these issues have drawn as much negative attention as the campaign violation perpetrated by the Scanlon ticket. Baldwin repeatedly stressed that the members of the Board of Elections had spent two hours discussing the appropriate penalty for the violation, and that she was confident that the punishment was appropriate.
“This vote should not go to the Senate,” said Baldwin early in the public forum.
Several senators expressed concern that granting the appeal would effectively overrule the vote of the student body. However, Sen. Kristen Vennekotter drew heated criticism from a student in the public forum when she asked “Why are we even voting on this decision? What does it matter?”
Katie Bissell, a freshman, challenged this statement, and received applause from the public forum for doing so.
“There were at least 20 students at the public forum and 10 or so stayed for the debate and decision, despite having to wait while student government handled clubs’ business. It matters. The Senators who sat and voted at that table are our students’ voices,” said Bissell.
This was obviously a difficult issue for everyone involved to consider. Board of Elections member Jeff Kerscher described the violation as “a perfect storm,” as it fell into such a “gray area” in the election code.
Many senators appeared to be agonizing about the decision of whether or not to grant the appeal.
Senator Andrew Smith expressed concern about how students would perceive SGA’s actions in this situation.
“Students need to know that Senate takes vote manipulation very seriously,” said Smith.
Several senators, as well as SGA President Maggie Meyer seemed concerned that this issue might create a schism in senate.
Senator Kevin Contrera invoked Abraham Lincoln, stating that “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”
“I think change in the system needs to happen,” said Scanlon. “We need to move forward as a cohesive unit.”
For the Newswire's editorial reaction to this story, click Op-Ed.
Xavier to increase tuition
New costs will not affect upperclasses
Kelly Shaw
Senior News Writer
Tuition rates were increased last December, making a year at Xavier $26,250.
Approved by the university’s Board of Trustees, the 2008-2009 budget will increase a full-time student’s tuition by $795 per semester. Juniors will not have to endure the rise in costs, as the new rates will only apply to those students who enrolled after the 2005 spring semester.
Room and board will also be increased by approximately $100 for on campus housing and $50 for meal plans.
Administrators claim the tuition rates will not deter students from applying and staying at Xavier. Instead, they believe increases needed for the future success of the university.
“This year’s general increase in tuition, which continues to be significantly below the average for Jesuit and regional independent colleges and universities in the Midwest, is necessary to continue to affirm our vision and provide [students] with a solid and meaningful education,” said Roger Fortin, Academic Vice President and Provost.
Fortin cited faculty enhancement, expansion of technology and educational services, renovations of residence halls and increases in need-based financial aid as some of the benefits that will come from the tuition boost.
“I think [the increase] is small enough that the quality of programs at Xavier will be the driving factor,” said Adrian Schiess, Director of Student Success and Retention, who also claims that he has not seen a negative impact on freshman retention from previous increases in tuition.
In fact the university has recently been succeeding in retention, as this semester brought 96 percent of freshman back to campus. Xavier also had a record number of applicants for the 2008-2009 school year.
“There’s no decline in the interest in Xavier,” said Marianne Borgmann, Admission Office Interim Director. “The challenge is in families having enough funds for payments.”
Borgmann is confident that financial aid—given to nearly 95 percent of Xavier’s students—will ease the burden of the new costs.
For now, the most significant challenge to the university’s increased tuition rates are next semester’s retention and applicant data.
Kathryn Rosenbaum
Editor-in-Chief
Rachel Peters
Ann Tassone
Darren LaCour
Senior News Editors
The Xavier Newswire 3800 Victory Parkway Cincinnati, Ohio 45207-2129 On-campus location: The Publications House, 3739 Ledgewood Dr. Telephone: 513.745.3607 Advertising: 513.745.3561 Fax: 513.745.2898 Email: Kathryn Rosenbaum
Editor-in-Chief Nathan Sergio
Advertising Manager Full list of staff contacts www.xu.edu/newswire
