Impact plans to file a grievance today claiming Elevation broke campaign rules by sending an email to about 450 students from the presidential candidate’s U email account.
Redbook, the policies and procedures of the Associated Students of the University of Utah, states that students cannot violate any U rules in campaigning. The network agreement for campus email addresses does not allow sending unsolicited bulk email messages, under the threat of closing the network account of students who violate the policy.
Bill Edwards and Randall Lloyd, the president and vice presidential candidates from Impact, both received an email from Elevation, along with many of their supporters.
“We know it’s unsolicited because Billy and I got it,” Lloyd said. “We’re not sure how they had access to these email addresses.”
Impact believes an email sent to students telling them how to vote and who to vote for gives Elevation an unfair advantage.
“AnnMarie Allen and Colter Hammer [Elevation president and vice presidential candidates] are very qualified and educated candidates with a lot of experience, they have what it takes to take it to the next level,” the email reads. The email also includes a link to the ASUU Web site and tells students where to go to vote.
Allen used her personal email account to send the approximately 450 messages, using addresses of “friends” she has accumulated over the years, according to Hammer.
“It wasn’t done with any intention of breaking any rules,” Hammer said. “They were sent out of a personal email account. The opponents could have done the same thing.”
Special Prosecutor Jackson Lever does not think Elevation’s actions constitute a violation either.
“It’s kind of ambiguous because, AnnMarie being senior class president had access to a lot of information,” he said. “I don’t think that it’s a violation” he can prosecute.
Although voting concluded last night at 9, the grievance filed by Impact could have a significant effect on the election’s results.
Redbook limits the amount of money each party can spend while seeking office. Each party can only spend $1,500 during the elections, and each president and vice presidential ticket can spend another $1,500 for the elections. These numbers include all fees and fines paid. If the Elections Committee rules in Impact’s favor, the fine could put Elevation over its campaign limit and disqualify Allen and Hammer from the race.
According to Hammer, Elevation has spent $2,500 total on their campaign, so a fine of more than $500 could bankrupt Elevation.
Impact is not filing the grievance to ensure it wins the election, but because party leaders want to represent the students who got the email, even though they did not want it.
“I don’t think we should let anything slide just because it’s the last day of the elections,” Edwards said.
The grievance Impact plans to file should not delay announcement of the election results, according to Elections Registrar Josh Walker. The grievance must be filed by noon today, which will give the Elections Committee time to meet and debate the issue.
“Hopefully it won’t affect anything at all,” Walker said. “We’ve allowed ourselves time.”
