By Madi Alexander, Web Editor
Student Court disqualified SGA presidential candidate Jacilyn Kennedy after formal charges were brought against her campaign.
Kennedy, entertainment business junior, was one of six students who filed for the office. This is the highest number of students to run for president in recent years. Voting is set for March 25-26.
To read more on the elections, click here.
The decision came after students filed formal complaints against Kennedy, said Harmonniey Cheadle, chief justice of Student Court.
Mitch Thrower, SGA presidential candidate, and Esteban Silva, Thrower’s campaign manager, filed a formal complaint March 9 against Kennedy and Rhameil Sampson, Kennedy’s campaign manager.
Thrower’s complaint states that Sampson approached him about stepping down and endorsing Kennedy in exchange for a position in Kennedy’s administration if she were elected. The formal complaint also states that Thrower recorded the conversation with Sampson.
Click here to view the complaint.
Enticement of constituents by any candidate is prohibited, according to the SGA Election Rules.
“Grounds for disqualification include willful, malicious and/or persistent acts,” according to the SGA Election Rules.
Students can be disqualified from elections for “violations of Student Government Association Constitution, Student Government Association By-Laws, Election Rules, Student Life Policies, Residential Life and Housing policies, University Policies, or rulings of the Election Commission,” according to the SGA Election Rules.
Kennedy is appealing the court’s decision.
“Nothing is final,” Cheadle said. “Her case is still pending.”
Kennedy has been officially disqualified until the court renders a decision on her appeal, Cheadle said.
The deadline for the Student Court to issue their decision on the appeal is 5 p.m. March 14.
Check back with MediaOCU.com for updates.
Kennedy still is scheduled to participate in the News on the Twos live television debate.
The debate will be hosted at 2:15 p.m. on March 14 in the TV Studio in the Mass Communications department in Walker Center for Arts and Sciences.
To read more on the debate, click here.
Student Publications attempted to reach Kennedy and Sampson on March 13, but they were unavailable for comment.
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