2008 Woodie Awards
Questionable tactics color campaigns
Ed Komenda
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: News
The race for student representative on the Western Illinois University Board of Trustees between Jessie Kallman and Blake Antonides concluded Thursday but the campaigning that led up to Antonides' win will not be forgotten.
"Both BOT candidates have been before the committee on charges of early campaigning," said Tara Short, Student Government Association campaign coordinator.
Antonides' problems began after e-mails were obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. One of the e-mails was addressed to various Western athletic coaches and dated March 6 - more than a week before the March 17 start date for official campaigning.
"It was the e-mail that he sent out to the rest of the coaches to come to their meeting," Short said. "There is a paragraph in there that states reasons why he's a better candidate than Jessie."
She added all candidates are to follow all state and federal laws, as well as the Student Code of Conduct. The latter is where Antonides' offense is based.
?"If you're going to set up a meeting, that's fine, set up a meeting, but don't campaign to them, because they're going to say 'yes' or 'no,'" Short said.
As with any charge, Antonides was sanctioned from certain privileges that would usually be acceptable under regular campaigning circumstances.
"He cannot campaign at Western Hall, and he cannot campaign in the (Student) Rec Center," Short said. "We felt that those were two buildings that most athletes would go into and use the most."
Also contained in the e-mails is a strong line of correspondence between Antonides and Western Athletics Director, Dr. Tim Van Alstine. The earliest of those e-mails is dated Feb. 25, 2008.
"He sent initial e-mails to Van Alstine to set up meetings during campaign time," Short said "The e-mails between him and Van Alstine were fairly clean."
According to Antonides, he spoke with Van Alstine about student fees and how Western is currently far behind. He added that they spoke of a gradual athletics fees increase.
Kallman found herself in hot water as well after a campaign video was found on the popular Web site, YouTube. The video was suspected to be available for nearly one week before the official campaigning date.
"You can't put a video on a Web site for campaigning purposes, especially when it's a Web site you know students use," Short said.
According to Short, Kallman was charged with a one-week suspension from campaigning. After this she began to campaign promptly at 12 a.m. on March 21, according to Kallman.
Joe Lanane, current SGA vice president, has a hunch that the apparent "dirtiness" of the BOT race is a result of a heightened sense of competition.
"There is definitely a lot more animosity compared to last year's race; it's about as clear as night and day," Lanane said. "Since the BOT race is the only competitive race this year with a ballot vote, the animosity is a lot clearer."
"Both BOT candidates have been before the committee on charges of early campaigning," said Tara Short, Student Government Association campaign coordinator.
Antonides' problems began after e-mails were obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. One of the e-mails was addressed to various Western athletic coaches and dated March 6 - more than a week before the March 17 start date for official campaigning.
"It was the e-mail that he sent out to the rest of the coaches to come to their meeting," Short said. "There is a paragraph in there that states reasons why he's a better candidate than Jessie."
She added all candidates are to follow all state and federal laws, as well as the Student Code of Conduct. The latter is where Antonides' offense is based.
?"If you're going to set up a meeting, that's fine, set up a meeting, but don't campaign to them, because they're going to say 'yes' or 'no,'" Short said.
As with any charge, Antonides was sanctioned from certain privileges that would usually be acceptable under regular campaigning circumstances.
"He cannot campaign at Western Hall, and he cannot campaign in the (Student) Rec Center," Short said. "We felt that those were two buildings that most athletes would go into and use the most."
Also contained in the e-mails is a strong line of correspondence between Antonides and Western Athletics Director, Dr. Tim Van Alstine. The earliest of those e-mails is dated Feb. 25, 2008.
"He sent initial e-mails to Van Alstine to set up meetings during campaign time," Short said "The e-mails between him and Van Alstine were fairly clean."
According to Antonides, he spoke with Van Alstine about student fees and how Western is currently far behind. He added that they spoke of a gradual athletics fees increase.
Kallman found herself in hot water as well after a campaign video was found on the popular Web site, YouTube. The video was suspected to be available for nearly one week before the official campaigning date.
"You can't put a video on a Web site for campaigning purposes, especially when it's a Web site you know students use," Short said.
According to Short, Kallman was charged with a one-week suspension from campaigning. After this she began to campaign promptly at 12 a.m. on March 21, according to Kallman.
Joe Lanane, current SGA vice president, has a hunch that the apparent "dirtiness" of the BOT race is a result of a heightened sense of competition.
"There is definitely a lot more animosity compared to last year's race; it's about as clear as night and day," Lanane said. "Since the BOT race is the only competitive race this year with a ballot vote, the animosity is a lot clearer."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 4
spectator
posted 4/04/08 @ 12:19 PM CST
it is unfortunate that money won this election....the results were close but mr. antonides won his office by purchasing a large quantity of signs and putting them in yards, in some cases without the tennants persmission(as such as mine), and taking out large advertisements in this paper. (Continued…)
Derek
posted 4/04/08 @ 3:57 PM CST
I am pretty sure signs do not automatically when you an election. I wish that would be the case, because I am almost positive you would see presidential candidates literally flooding neighborhoods with their own. (Continued…)
Post a Comment