ASMSU’s special presidential elections were postponed Thursday night after representatives expressed concern about the suspension of the student government’s elections code of operations.
The organization’s bylaws state that the student body needs to be informed at least 10 class days prior to the elections. It also notes candidates need to turn their election packets in five class days prior to the elections. Former ASMSU President Evan Martinak resigned seven class days before the elections, The three days of Thanksgiving break altered the day count.
Vice President for Academic Affairs Mitchell Goheen was appointed as interim president after Martinak resigned, as per succession rules.
“I’m kind of torn (between both decisions), but at this point, we need stability,” Goheen said.
Vice President for Internal Administration Teresa Bitner motioned at the start of the meeting to suspend the code of operations. After the motion passed, ASMSU representative Christopher Baldwin motioned to suspend elections.
Baldwin said Martinak should have announced his resignation earlier in the semester in order to properly follow the student government’s bylaws.
“It also seemed that ASMSU was, in a way, favoring candidates by pushing this through,” Baldwin said.
Vice President for Finance and Operations Michael Mozina said Martinak’s decisions are his own, adding he had his reasons not to announce his resignation earlier.
Martinak was not present at the meeting to comment.
Bitner said representatives probably figured out the special elections violated the bylaws right after they got Martinak’s letter on Nov. 22.
She said representatives should have approached the Office of the President sooner and not wait until election day.
“When we’re bending the rules, it doesn’t send the right message to people,” College of Social Science representative Evan Schrage said.
Presidential candidate Christopher McClain, who was opposed to the suspension of operating under the bylaws, said he feels better now that the elections are postponed.
“I don’t want to be an illegitimate president,” McClain said, adding that it is important for ASMSU to establish a certain accountability.
Chief of Staff Kiran Samra said given the outcome of Thursday’s meeting to postpone elections, the student government would need to look further into its bylaws and figure out its next steps.
Lyman Briggs representative James Conwell said this decision would cripple the transition, adding that it is mentioned in the ASMSU bylaws mention that in emergency situations, such as this one, codes can be suspended.
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