As the deadline for campaigning for Student Association elections drew to a close last night, Travis Mason made a final campaign move that has some concerned of the legality of his actions.

At around 11:45 p.m. Sunday night several students received a campaign e-mail from Student Association presidential candidate Travis Mason asking them to cast their vote for him between Nov. 8 and 11.

The controversy surrounding Mason’s e-mail was due to the fact it was sent close to midnight on Sunday, which, according to SA election codes, could be a fineable offense. Also, how Mason acquired the names for the list and whether or not it counted as campaigning at a polling site were also controversial points.

According to the SA election codes, no campaign material can be placed at polling sites during the election period. Since students vote for SA candidates on the Internet, campaigning through e-mails, listservs and instant messages are considered a violation of this rule. Candidates have until midnight the night before the election to remove any campaign materials from polling sites.

But some believe Sunday night’s e-mail appeared to violate this rule.

‘Travis has been blatantly doing shady things throughout the entire election,’ said SA comptroller Maggie Mistzal.

Misztal said that if Mason had used a listserv to e-mail students, it might also violate the election codes, an offense that could result in Mason’s termination from the race.

According to Mason, his action Sunday night was legal. Since he sent the e-mail at 11:30 p.m., it was still valid, even if students opened it after midnight. He also said that he did not use a listserv to send the message, but combed the student directory to get students’ e-mail addresses instead.

‘We played by the rules and we did everything we were supposed to do,’ Mason said. ‘I didn’t use my office to promote the election.’

Mason said that at a Board of Elections and Membership meeting, BEM chairwoman Jessie Cordova made it clear that campaigning at polling sites would have to end before the midnight the elections started. However, sending an e-mail before the deadline would be allowed.

Cordova confirmed Mason’s assertion saying that he did not violate any restrictions in using the student directory to find students’ e-mail addresses or by sending the campaign e-mail so close to the deadline.

‘As long as it was before midnight, it should be OK,’ Cordova said.

Cordova also said it was not the candidate’s fault if the e-mail was opened after midnight. As long as the e-mail was sent before then, it is still considered legal campaigning material.

Although he agreed Mason’s actions were legal, Jonny Umansky, Mason’s opponent for SA president, did not agree with the e-mail being sent.

‘To go through 12,000 students and write down e-mails is a bit shaky,’ he said. ‘I think it just shows that he is truly a ‘whatever it takes’ candidate.

‘He’s looking for blind support.’

Other election irregularities have also occurred.

Mason’s e-mail came after he had made it known that his campaign posters were being moved to illegal locations, possibly at a detriment to his campaign.

Mason said campaign materials such as door hangers and posters had been ripped off and placed in locations such as women’s restrooms.

‘It’s just kind of iffy that it’s happening,’ Mason said.

Published on November 7, 2004 at 12:00 pm