Controversy erupts over disqualified LSU election candidates
 Emma Leigha Munro (left) and Damien Otis want to appeal their disqualification from the recent LSU election. Photo by Jesse Winter. |
By JESSE WINTER
Two Langara College students are trying to appeal their disqualifications from this month's student union elections, but say they have been met with stonewalling and intimidation.
Damien Otis, Emma Leigha Munro and Arian Alemzadeh all campaigned together, and all had their candidacy revoked because they were "in breach of campaign laws," according to Langara Students' Union media liaison Eli Zbar.
"[The disqualification] was a unanimous decision by the election committee," Zbar said. "Breaking one rule is breaking one rule too many."
The intimidation factor
Otis said he feels personally intimidated by the LSU, and that an LSU representative warned him they were considering legal action. Munro said the LSU representative told her they could be kicked out of the LSU altogether and lose their U-Passes and health insurance if they did not cease and desist.
 Eli Zbar LSU media liason |
In a conversation recorded by Otis, Zbar accused Otis of defamation and libel, and made statements like "You offend me to my very core, you pathetic slime," and "I can see your eyes turning brown, you're so full of shit."
Zbar acknowledged the conversation and said he apologises for losing his temper, but said "I don't regret anything I said."
Otis secretly taped his conversation with Zbar. Listen in with this exclusive Voice podcast to see what Zbar had to say.
Warning: This podcast contains language some people may find offensive.
Some evidence has finally been revealed
The LSU did eventually release some of the evidence. On Monday, Feb. 15, Zbar sent an email to Otis and Munro with photos showing one of their campaign handbills taped to the wall of classroom A351.
But the candidates have questions about the photo evidence.
"We didn't tape any flyers to the walls," Otis said.
The flyer isn't stamped and approved for display, a rule that Munro said they never would have violated.
"We never intended to cheat. We were not trying to get away with anything sneaky," Munro said.
Zbar said the candidates broke a campaign bylaw that states: "All campaign material must be removed from public view no later than 10 hours prior to the commencement of polling." The photo was time-stamped 4:43 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 4 - 13 minutes into the 10-hour restricted window.
|
|
There is currently no appeals process in place to handle cases like this, but Zbar said the candidates are welcome to present their own evidence, which will be taken into account.
