After a dramatic weekend left the status of spring elections up in the air, ASUO President Sam Dotters-Katz filed for a motion for clarification to the Constitution Court on Monday night.
Dotters-Katz is asking the Constitution Court to declare that administration had no authority to step in on the matter of the Tullis v. Bowman grievance last Friday. The Elections Board resigned after the administration delayed the elections and put Bowman back on the ballot. Both the Elections Board and the Constitution Court had previously ruled to remove Bowman from the ballot after a grievance filed by fellow presidential candidate Thomas Tullis cited instances of alleged harassment, intimidation and bribery.
Dotters-Katz is seeking a solution to the jumbled election timeline outside of administration.
“We’re not complying with the administration’s demand, and if need be we’ll proceed with our own elections,” Dotters-Katz said.
The second request in the motion asks the Constitution Court to guide the ASUO through elections without violating conflicting rules in the organization’s constitution. The constitution lays out a lengthy process of appointing and hiring members of the Elections Board, but also states that elections must occur by April 30. Without clarification, any action would likely violate the constitution.
“We want the court to let us appoint an Elections Board Chairman in an immediate fashion,” Dotters-Katz said.
If the Constitution Court allows, the president could appoint a new Elections Board coordinator at this Wednesday’s ASUO Senate meeting.
Elections are currently scheduled to begin April 14.