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R I B U N E
M c G I Vol. 23 Issue 24
Published by the Students' Society of M cG ill U niversity since 1981
Thu rsd ay, M arch 18, 2004
Alii appeals disqualification T h e g l o v e s c o m e o f f in A l a m A lii v. C h i e f R e t u r n i n g O f f i c e r
Jennifer Jett
m orning. Sealing the results until a final decision is m ade, J-Board m em bers argued, will pre serve the legitimacy of the election. “A nnouncing a p re sid en t u n d e r a cloud o f p e n d in g judicial p ro ceed in g s w ould have called into question the legiti m acy o f th at p resident-elect," they explained “Since the sealed results o f the presidential election will only be released if the J-Board finds that the CRO’s decision w as unreasonable, a president will only be a nnounced o nce there is n o dou b t as to his or her legitimacy.” Alii could not be reached for com m ent.
W hile students running for vice-presi dent positions in the Students’ Society elec tion either celebrated their victories or con ced e d their d efeats after results w ere announced last night, the candidates for SSMU p re sid en t w e re left w o n d e rin g w hether all their postering and debating will result in any president at all. T he outcom e o f the SSMU presidential election rem ains unknow n, as m em bers of the Judicial B oard ordered the results sealed pen d in g their d ecision o n w h e th er to uphold the chief returning officer’s decision to disqualify candidate Alam Alii Friday afternoon. Candidates patiently await results The five Law students that m ake up “The J-Board has the constitutional the J-Board, w hich is the highest authority authority to do w hat it feels will ensure a o n the validity of SSMU elections and refer just and integral election,” Rhodes said. enda, will m eet Sunday evening to address H yndm an said he thought sealing the Alli’s petition to overturn the decision. If results is a good idea. Elections McGill’s decision is upheld, the “It m akes it less personal," h e said. “If results o f the election— a three-w ay race som eone finds out they w in and th en they b etw een Saeed Fotuhi, Willie H yndm an and lose after, I think it w ould bring too m any Kate Rhodes—will b e released, a n d the can personal conflicts into it.” didate w ho received the m ost votes will Fotuhi agreed, saying this w ay a new becom e president. If Alli’s petition is suc election, if necessary, will b e fair. cessful, arrangem ents will b e m ade for a “We d o n ’t lose anything by waiting n e w election. until Sunday to find out the results,” h e said. C hief R eturning O fficer Carlyryan M em bers o f th e J-B oard p lan to K ochen m ade the decision to disqualify Alii announce their decision im m ediately after based o n seven alleged cam paign bylaw the hearing if possible. Otherw ise, the deci violations, including postering violations, sion will b e a nnounced no later than m id sending unsolicited e-mails, conducting night o n Tuesday. slanderous cam paigning, a n d using his Students m ay pick u p copies o f the Jposition as a n executive o f the Science B oard’s interim order at the SSMU office. ■ U ndergraduate Society to advance his cam paign, WHAT: Alii vs. CRO K ochen said sealing the results will minim ize confusion and complications. WHEN: March 21, 6:00 pm “I think it’s the best w ay to uphold the integrity of the election," K ochen said. WHERE: Moot Court, Room The J-Board received Alli’s petition, 100, N ew Chancellor requesting the im m ediate consideration of Day Hall his com plaint, o n S aturday m o rn in g .. T he hearing is o p e n to all M em bers o f the J-Board did not hold an m em bers o f the SSMU, except imm ediate hearing so as to avoid interrupt during closed sessions. ing the voting period, w hich beg an Friday
■ VP OPS
DiCarlo— 56.8% Schreiber— 26.1%
MUSF passes Laura Saba A referendum held by th e S tu d en ts’ Society to replace the McGill Student F und w ith th e McGill U ndergraduate Student Fund passed w ith a majority o f 55.3 per cent. The MSF expires in May, and will be replaced this fall. Full-time students will pay $19 per sem ester, half the am ount o f the previous fee. The fee will be divided in order to pay for extended library hours, stu d e n t b u r saries a n d the Cam pus Life Fund. “ I am very pleased," said SSMU V ice-President University Affairs Vivian Choy, w h o chaired the Yes comm it tee for the referendum . She attributed the result to stu dents being w ell inform ed, and that the fee will benefit not only SSMU. but also stu dents in general. SSMU P resident Kate Rhodes said that students sent a strong political m essage to the university administration.
■ VPUA “We are taking one step back from allowing the uni versity to charge us for our academ ic rights as ancillary fees," she said. T he fact that a slight m ajority approved it indicates that it is still controversial, Choy said. “Students contributing to the university is n o t a very cut and dry Issue," she said. Rhodes disagreed. “O ver 50 p e r cent o f the vote solidifies the political m essage that stu d e n ts are sending, that o u r education is not an ancillary fee," she said. O f the 3,172 votes cast, 2,054 w ere in favour o f the fee, w hile 1,282 (34.5 per cent) rejected it. T hree h u n dred and seventy-six votes (10.1 p e r cent) w ere spoiled. Choy noted that students will be able to o p t o u t of the fee. “For students w h o can not afford it, or w h o d o not w ant to pay for it, I urge them to o p t out, and that’s 100 per cent OK,” she said. ■
Bryan—28.7% Rosenfeld—21.7% Becker—20.9% D’Souza—15.9% ■ VP
c &s
Shahid—47.5% Ens—38.6% • VPC& E
Sward—28% Qasemi—24.8% Bowden—23.9% Flukiger—9.5% - MUSF REFERENDUM
Yes— 55.3% N o— 34.5% ■ MUS SENATE uo
C n
JofFres— 36.5% Ali— 28.3% N g — 2 7 .4 %
■ SUS SENATE
u o u o
Nurmohamed— 44.6% Pasternak— 25% Brar— 21.3%