Sabbs branded 'secretive' as election row escalates By JAMES GOFFIN, News Editor
Union sabbs have been accused of acting undemocratically after banning students from a meeting investigating last semester's controversial Communications Officer election. The balls-up allowed sole cand idate Col in Moore to be elected by just one vote. rather than force the Union to open up the job \ again to other students. Concrete revealed last issue how "I don't remember that vote [to meet "it's not the accountable and election bosses had discounted in secret], but the meetings were democratic union that the sabbs dozens of votes to re-start the gloat it is. " conducted in secret, " confided election process. because the ballot Col in. But Lisa defended the move papers carried an X or a tick rather The move has infuriated Forum claiming it is the only way to ensure than a number 1 . despite this being member Anthony Little, who himself a fair discussion . allowed under election rules. lodged a complaint about the "People gossip and rumour starts But when the Union's Elections handling of December's election. spreading, but if Forum is going to Committee - members of which had "There's nothing in the constitution legitimately take a decision they made the original mistake - met on that says Election Committee need to be unbiased which Friday to discuss complaints about should be a secret meeting . Could hopefully will mean having heard as the election , they refused to let you imagine if Forum voted little about it as possible before ordinary students sit in on ourselves a secret meeting? How hand ," she said. discussions, protesting that they can the committee itself decide to Secrecy had a right to meet in secret. be secret?" he stormed. Despite the secrecy ruling, Claimed Concrete has learnt that the Other news: Union Academic Officer, Lisa Eldret, committee heard three - Charmley attacks governclaimed that Elections Committee complaints about the Comms ment's fees policy 3 decided in March last year to hold election, and a fourth complaint 8 Rohypnol warning their meetings in secret, after it which sources indicate related to became clear that there were next fornight's Nestle problems with the original referendum. And he accused sabbs of treating Communications Officer election. Forum with contempt by refusing to Of the Comms "Last year there were many many give members prior access to the complaints, one was personal attacks on members of committee's report. received from Anthony Elections Committee and it wasn't "To give the report to Forum Little protesting about fair, so we decided to follow the members three minutes before the decision on spoilt procedures of Complaints we're due to vote on it, gives a papers, and another Committee. it's protecting individual pathetically small amount of time to was lodged by Colin students, and it's protecting make a judgement." Moore com plaining members of the committee." "it loads the dice in favour of about publicity for RON. But Colin Moore, who was on the Elections Committee because The third is widely committee at the time of the alleged anyone who wants to speaks believed to be from the vote, cannot recall a vote on against it won't have had time to organiser of the RON meeting in secret. prepare." campaign.
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