Nirvana Habash and “Nirvana for SG,” her campaign organization, filed misconduct charges against Erika Zois, chairwoman of the Judicial Board and acting-chairwoman of the Board of Elections.
In a letter dated March 18, “Nirvana for SG” sent a letter Student Activities Director Karen Gerlach outlining misconduct by Zois as well as Judicial Board members Ida Rosenthal and Ray Hear.
Zois served on the Board of Elections and voted in the decision to disqualify Habash from the election. Habash then appealed the BOE’s decision to the Judicial Board. Since Zois serves on both the BOE and the Judicial Board, she said she would remain silent throughout the appeals hearing.
“Chairwoman Zois swore to maintain an unbiased, objective opinion throughout the appeals process,” the letter to Gerlach said. “She has flagrantly, and unethically violated her obligation to remain neutral.
At one point Zois discussed Habash’s appeal with Anthony Dunham, former speaker of the Undergraduate Senate and a candidate for president. According to Jose Morales — who was in the room — Dunham and Zois talked about Habash’s challenge to the BOE’s ruling. Morales is serving as the president of the class of 2013 and has personally endorsed Habash. This information was verified by a student with knowledge of the situation.
“It’s obviously a violation,” Morales said. “This election is now a mockery.”
Dunham could not be reached for comment.
Habash is also filing Student Conduct Code violations against Zois, claiming that her actions constitute intimidation and harassment. Under Section V, Subsection G of the Student Conduct Code harassment constitutes “an intimidating, hostile, coercive act which is intentional or persistent.”
Gerlach has been meeting with both Habash and Zois throughout the week in an attempt to mediate the dispute.
“If need be, we have the ability to take administrative action,” she said. “But our preference is to let students and Student Government work out their issues together.”
As controversy had continued, there has been talk of the Undergraduate Senate possibly invalidating the election. The Senate must certify election results and if it deems Habash treated unfairly. A new election would then need to take place, though it is unclear if there would be more time for campaigning.
UPDATE: Zois has stepped down as chair of the BOE. Bikram Kohli will now fill that position.
This story was updated March 19 at 8:47 p.m.
14 Comments
Alex Knepper
March 19, 2010 at 6:50 PM
This sounds like awfully serious business. Should I be paying more attention to this?
Put her in time out!
March 19, 2010 at 8:04 PM
Clearly a travesty has occurred and someone must be punished. Time for the dunce cap and time out in the corner. This is very serious business
Jack Spencer
March 19, 2010 at 8:40 PM
No Knepper, the only thing you should be paying attention to is how to write more shit-ass articles that are more like mind puke than opinion.
Franky Foot
March 19, 2010 at 10:55 PM
All we know is that Nirvana is a complainer. Nate is being pulled into this by crazy people. Anthony is not made out to be president and we all need to get to sleep.
Bharat
March 19, 2010 at 11:20 PM
I for one actually enjoy Alex’s articles, and I’m a die hard democrat.
Jesus
March 19, 2010 at 11:29 PM
YAYYY, so pretty much Nirvana is promising “more flagrant and time-wasting bullshit” if elected President.
We haven’t had enough drama this year, Nirvana (and, to be fair, the dumbass BOE)... What the *@)#($*@#%?
Alex Knepper
March 20, 2010 at 1:32 AM
Enough about Nirvana Habash—let’s keep talking about me. There seem to be two types of lefties when it comes to my writing: the type who say that I’m an attention whore who just wants to piss people off, and the type who say that they like my writing even when they disagree with it, because they find my take amusing or interesting.
I’d like to get the candidates’ take on my column.
Should I endorse? I wonder if I should endorse. There’s one candidate—for VP—that I actually kind of like.
Mike Mayer
March 20, 2010 at 2:49 AM
If I were President, none of this shit would have happened.
Howard Cosell
March 20, 2010 at 9:55 AM
Dear Mr. Knepper,
No one cares about the banal drivel, referred to above as “[your] column”. That could be why none of the candidates are commenting on it. There are real issues facing the Student Government, and whether anyone reads The Eagle or your column (let me save you some time, no one does) is pretty far down the list.
K C
March 20, 2010 at 11:32 AM
This is getting insane. Zois is a power-hungry #*%#& to begin with, this is the proof we need that she does not deserve a position within SG because she cannot handle it.
voter
March 20, 2010 at 12:08 PM
why was Nirvana only allowed to be a write in canddidate? What was the reasoning the BOE gave?
BS
March 20, 2010 at 3:57 PM
Let’s ask another question? Why is Nirvana in the senate? I don’t believe she applied for it, the position wasn’t advertised. I checked my AUSG emails and I haven’t found any about an at-large senate seat being advertised. Did Merkwae just appoint her? Is that honesty? Is any candidate clean? Is this the best we can do at American? I think this issue needs to be looked at.
Alex Knepper
March 20, 2010 at 10:53 PM
“No one cares about the banal drivel, referred to above as “[your] column”. That could be why none of the candidates are commenting on it. There are real issues facing the Student Government, and whether anyone reads The Eagle or your column (let me save you some time, no one does) is pretty far down the list.”
Excuse me, sir! My column is incredibly serious business. Given that this election is about serious business, one would think that they would address it!
@Alex
March 21, 2010 at 8:31 PM
Not only is your column not serious business, this election is not about serious business. Anyways, like the guy said…no one cares.
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