Student Government presidential candidate Ashley Mushnick was accused and found responsible of breaking numerous Board of Election rules in a music video produced by her campaign.
The Mushnick campaign filmed and released a rap video last weekend that featured a song called "The Ashley Dance", which included footage of Mushnick riding the elephant outside of Hurst Hall, and dancing with supporters on the quad.
The first case against Mushnick was co-filed by presidential candidates Rob Boisseau and Joe Vidulich for violating BOE standing rules eight and nine, which prohibit candidates from campaigning in public places like bathrooms and Mary Graydon Center.
Parts of her video were filmed in a McDowell Hall bathroom and other parts showed exterior shots of MGC from the Quad, which the complaint claimed constituted campaigning in areas that are supposed to be free of any candidates' campaign materials.
The BOE found Mushnick responsible, and as punishment, ordered that she stop campaigning seven hours before all other candidates. The sanctions imposed require Mushnick to take down all campaign materials by 10 a.m. Wednesday, and ruled that she can no longer solicit votes after that time.
According to Mushnick, the seven-hour time period was determined by taking away an hour of campaign time every time MGC appeared in the video.
"I wish that candidates treated MGC like the haven that it's intended to be because I think students should have a place to be where they're not harassed" Boisseau said in response to the results of the hearing.
Vidulich believes the outcome of the hearing was fair, and would rather candidates adhered to the campaign rules.
"I think it shows that if Ashley is willing to stoop to this level to win a SG election, it shows that Ashley wants to stay with this game of petty politicking and do whatever it takes to win this. I want to engage students with the issues."
The second case was filed by BOE member Amy Quemore, on behalf of the BOE. It accused Mushnick of breaking university policy by riding the elephant in front of Hurst, which violated BOE rule 13, that ensures candidates follow all university rules. It also accused her of violating rule 15, which requires all campaign material to be approved by the BOE, because her video was not approved.
Mushnick was found responsible of both violations, and was made to stop any further distribution of the video. Also, the BOE will be forwarding the case to appropriate university authorities referencing possible university policy violations.
"In the future, I hope Ashley goes to the BOE to get further campaign materials approved in line with rules we all agreed with," Boisseau said.
Mushnick spoke against the ruling, saying that the ruling was not within the purview of the BOE, "I think that in general that there's a lack of precedent, and there were no rules pertaining to video that exist. I feel that I am being unfairly penalized by having critical campaign time taken away".
"I find it disappointing that candidates feel they need to cheat to win; I think it says something about how they will run their administration" SG President Kyle Taylor said of the violations, "I think the Board of Elections should enforce their rules, and disqualify candidates who violate rules that are so simply laid out."
In other election news, endorsements decisions ended with Joe Vidulich and Pat McGill being endorsed by the Screaming Eagles, the Foreign Policy Association and the College Republicans.
David Teslicko, a write-in candidate for comptroller was also endorsed by the Screaming Eagles.
Secretarial Candidate Joe Colarusso was endorsed by the Foreign Policy Association and secretarial Candidate David Gates was endorsed by the College Republicans.
