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VIDEO VOZ
LA VOZ WEEKLY
ELECTION CONFLICT
The Voice of De Anza College | May 18, 2009 | Vol. 42, Issue 25
PHOTOS (2) BY JOYCE SIM / LA VOZ
Approximately 50 students attended an Election Committee meeting at which charges were presented against candidates Marlo Custodio and Josh Chou. LEFT: De Anza College student president and Election Committee chair Terell Sterling and member Peter Lin moderate at May 14 meeting. RIGHT: Students Shane Mason, Chou, Jorge Cheko, Ernest Chavez, Matt Bradley and Custodio wait to be called on for comment, amongst others.
STUDENTS UNITED TICKET MAY BE DISQUALIFIED FROM RACE Daniel Gamberg and Kelly Truong LA VOZ NEWS
One of the two major tickets in the De Anza College Student Body Senate election is in danger of disqualification. Presidential candidate Marlo Custodio and executive vice-presidential candidate Josh Chou, representing Students United, may be removed from the race due to Chou’s alleged failure to attend the minimum of three candidate meetings. According to Inter-Club Council co-chair Peter Lin, the likelihood of their disqualification is “100 percent.” Chou said he met the full meeting attendance requirement. “We followed all the records for all the candidates,” said Terell Sterling, current Senate president and Election Committee chair. “It was found that Mr. Josh Chou had attended zero meetings.” Custudio and Chou said they were unaware of any issue with Chou’s attendance records until an Election Committee infraction meeting on
At each meeting, candidates write their names May 14. “That’s honestly ridiculous,” said Chou. “I’ve on a role sheet. A line is drawn after 20 minutes, been going to meetings since the middle of last indicating that all candidates above the line are quarter.” officially recorded as present. If Chou is found to be Senator Melody Lin said in violation, both will she drew the line at the May be disqualified from the 6 meeting before Chou’s arelection. The presidential and rival. “Terell said it was past the executive vice-presi20 minutes and requested dential candidates from that the clipboard be passed Student Connection, in front,” she said. the opposing party, will win by default. The initial draft for the April Seo, who is curMay 6 meeting minutes lists DANIEL GAMBERG / LA VOZ Chou as an official guest. rently running as Chou’s Sterling holds the approved However, Sterling said Lin opponent for executive moved to amend the minvice-president, said she records stating that Chou utes afterward to note that witnessed him on May was not officially present at a 6 at the meeting called mandatory meeting. Chou arrived more than 20 minutes late. into question. “I do reThe Senate approved the new minutes unanicall seeing him,” she said. “I really believe in a healthy election,” she mously. “I think it’s common knowledge that Josh said. “I would love to win, but I don’t want to Chou has been attending the meetings,” said win unopposed.”
student trustee Patrick Ahrens. “Why there’s a misconception between what really happened and the record of attendance is unclear to me.” Approximately 50 students attended the infraction meeting at which the Election Committee publicly announced the allegations against Chou. At the same meeting, Lin brought a libel charge against Custodio for allegedly defaming a candidate from Student Connection. “Mr. Custodio had stated that they had someone else in [Students United] that was qualified,” said Sterling. Custodio made the remarks in the classroom of English instructor Alex Giardino. During the meeting, Sterling addressed the charge by reading an e-mail from Giardino, stating that “there was nothing she felt was libelous or slanderous.” The libel charge was subsequently dropped. “I think Terell will do anything he can up until the last day to disqualify them,” said Matt Bradley, president of the Gay-Straight Alliance. CONTINUED PAGE 3, ELECTION
In their own words ... “They just want to wield their power because of personal grudges. Terell doesn’t like me because of my personal critique of Terell’s lack of leadership.”
“I really believe in a healthy election. I would love to win, but I don’t want to win unopposed.”
“We have taken the initiative to follow the codes strictly. The Election Committe is doing everything in its power to make sure this election is just.”
Marlo Custodio Presidential candidate Students United
April Seo Executive vice-presidential candidate Student Connection
Terell Sterling De Anza College student president Election Committee chair