Vnlume L I. hKimber 28
Inside
This
Issue...
Some agree, some donH
Christian rally at ampitheatre
brings out various beliefs / 3
Aztlea Festival
True spirit of annual celebration
comes to life/13
Oonball!
A dirty way to have some good
clean fun/19
Campus News 3
Local/State
University 8
OP/ED
11
Classifieds 12
The Scene 14
Excellence Through Truth and Dedication
www.theseahawk.ora
ADriM2.2000
SGA presidential elections suspended
Disqualifications, appeals of two candidates lead to postponement
by ANNA C. BROOME
Staff Writer
Student Government Association (SGA) Presidential candidates
Lee Keenen and Katie Russell were disqualified from the elections
last week due to campaign violations.
Keenen. currently a senator in the SGA. appealed the SGA Elec
tions Board Committee (EBC) decision last Wednesday, and the
EBC decided to suspend presidential elections until “further no
tice.” according to EBC Chairman Yancey Gulley. Keenen had no
comment about the disqualification.
•According to the SGA Election manual. Keenen had three days
to notify the committee about his decision to appeal. Although the
reasons for his disqualification are not known, it is known that more
than one complaint was filed against Keenen's campaign.
Last Tuesday, Seahawk Advertising Director Martin J. Smiley
informed Gulley that Keenen had “placed a poster for his cam
paign inside a display rack for The Seahawk," Smiley said. Candi
dates are not authorized to use Seahawk display racks to post cam
paign materials.
Keenen filed a complaint against presidential and vice-presi-
dential running mates Russell and Erica Pittelkow. He alleged they
violated the Student Government election poster/painting policy,
which states that “posters placed in buildings may not be larger
than 20x30 inches.” Keenen said last Saturday that was the only
complaint he filed against Russell and Pittelkow.
Among the witnesses listed in the complaint was Seahawk Edi
tor Thomas Ruyle. Ruyle’s name was included in the complaint
without his knowledge, and he wrote a letter to Gulley stating that
he would not act as a witness.
“I'm a reporter,” he said, “and seeing my name on there did
raise some question as to my objectivity, which I did not appreci
ate. I - and this newspaper - can not and will not act on behalf of
anyone’s campaign.”
Russell and Pittelkow were not found guilty of the charges be
cause the posters in question had been approved by the SGA before
the women placed them in the University Union.
m
Con*)'Aooanto'TS# SMftawft
Students vote in the SGA elections last Wednesday at
Wagoner Hall. Eighteen representatives and a new vice
president were elected, but the presidential election was
suspended until futher notice due to two disqualifications.
Russell, currently the SGA Secretary of Media, was disqualified
during the election for standing too close to the Wagoner Hall ptill-
ing station. President Patrick Gunn confirmed that Russell was dis
qualified.
She released a statement concerning the controversy: “I hope ev
erything will be resolved soon, so the elections can continue and run
smoothly,” Russell said.
Russell confirmed on Sunday that she was notified of the dis
qualification on Friday, and has filed an appeal
Pittelkow, who won the vice-presidency, had no comment on the
situation.
A report surfaced last Saturday that Keenen's mother, an adminis
trative intern at a Maryland elementary school, called Dean of Stu
dents Terry Curran about the situation. “Yes, she did call Dean Curran,
though I am unaware of the phone call or what it was about," Keenen
See SGA, page 5
University will award food contract to Aramark
SGA president to lead protest
by THOMAS M. RUYLE
t
Jvnes FhnvTht Seahswk
Chancellor James Leutze told students last week that
he will accept a committee’s recommendation to retain
Aramark as the campus food service provider. A stu-
dent-led protest is planned for tomorrow at 1 p.m. at
Alderman Hall.
Editor-In-Chief
Chancellor James Leutze announced last Tuesday at a student fo
rum that the university will renew its food service contract with
Aramark.
Over 300 students attended the forum in the Hawk's Nest to have
a question and answer session with Leutze. Among the topics dis
cussed were parking, housing, pedestrian safety, football, and Greek
life. No subject, however, elicited as strong of a response from the
chancellor and students as food service.
When asked about the status of the food contract competition be
tween Aramark and Marriott, Leutze said, “ARA (Aramark) will get
the contract again next year.” The contract is for five years, and
Aramark has held that contract for the past 15 years.
Leutze based his decision on the recommendation of ftie Food
Service Review Board, which voted seven to three ilk favor of