While candidates hurriedly prepare for the upcoming ASUU election, it seems another obstacle lies before several of the parties in this year’s race: legal battles.
Presidential hopeful Steven L. Rinehart of the Probable Cause party, with a claim to fame for suing the U’s Parking Services, has now threatened to sue all competition for allegedly “stealing and marketing” his parking platform for the campaign.
“Dude. The parking issue is mine,” Rinehart told reporters Saturday. “Nobody touches it.”
The lawsuit marks the second time this year Rinehart has threatened to sue an organization within the university, a move some students feel could threaten his chances at the presidency.
Amy Crane, a sophomore in the U’s political science program, said the lawsuit could prove to the detriment of the Probable Cause party more than any other.
“I don’t think that’s so great for publicity; I think a lot of students might feel threatened by a president who’s so trigger-happy, if you know what I mean,” she said.
Apathy party presidential candidate Steven Paradise plans to contest the accusation of platform theft in the case trial, to take place April 3 in the Salt Lake 102nd District Court.
“I’m too good of a guy to be sued. My last name’s Paradise, what else can I say?” he said.
“If I’m the only candidate suing Parking Services, the idea of parking control is clearly mine. The parking issue on campus is explosive, and these other candidates don’t know beans about suing anybody else. I’m the guy to do it,” said Rinehart.
Rinehart also defends his move for legal action, saying that idea-stealing has long been part of ASUU campaign corruption.
“Last year, I swear I saw at least five “Got Milk” rip-offs in the posters and banners,” he said. “Let’s face it, people, candidates like to rip off each other’s ideas.”
Probable Cause party members say the lawsuit will also help provide funding for the financially draining costs of managing a campaign. If Rinehart (who will represent himself in the matter) wins the case, all funds will reportedly go towards Probably Cause party expenditures.
Meanwhile, candidates of the Impact, Elevation and Apathy parties, who were presented with court papers Friday, struggle to cope with the pending legal issue.
“Our stress levels are off the charts,” said Elevation presidential candidate AnnMarie Allen. “I’m trying to get a neighbor to help me out with a lot of our case; I’ve never been sued before,” she said. “My biggest concern is trying to maintain a happy, high-school feel on campus with Rinehart’s suit. If I’m worrying about legal battles, there’s no way I can help decorate for the spring dance.”
Another party, Impact, remains adamant about “looking at the brighter side” of the issue, claims Vice Presidential candidate Randall Lloyd.
“For us, it’s an insurance thing. U students can rest assured that, no matter what, we will not sue them,” Lloyd said.
Impact President Bill Edwards agreed, though he also suggested alternative means of coping with the lawsuit.
“We just get out buddies on Greek Row and LDSSA to go beat the crap out of him,” Edwards said, extending an open invitation to all students to meet Thursday evening in front of the LDS Institute building.
Rinehart’s running mate, Annie Deprey seemed split on the law student’s decision to sue the other parties.
“[Suing] may not be the most legitimate course of action, but what can I say? Steve’s my partner in this race, and I’ve just learned to give in to these little fits,” Deprey said. “Steve threatened to sue me once, too, at the beginning of the race. You find that these things usually blow over.”
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