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GSSC Debate Will Include Write-In Candidate
By Alix Pianin
PUBLISHED APRIL 22, 2008
General Studies Student Council VP of Finance and presidential write-in candidate Keith Hightower will be permitted to participate in tonight’s debate, Judicial Committee members have ruled. While Hightower was initially told by the Elections Committee that he would need the unanimous approval of the other GSSC presidential candidates, a ruling from the newly-appointed Judicial Committee came back in his favor.
“Pursuant to the GSSC Constitution 06-01:12, which states that ‘anyone who announces his or her candidacy in any way, will be considered an official candidate, and will be bound by all Election by-laws,’ the Judicial Committee has voted to allow write-in candidates to participate in GSSC Debates,” committee member Akillah Wali wrote in an e-mail announcing the ruling.
“If my voice or my platform was silenced, then I believe that would be a huge disservice to the entire student body,” Hightower said.
While the candidate debates were originally scheduled for last Tuesday and the elections were to be held April 18, the JC decided to delay the elections until April 23 in order to properly consider Hightower’s appeal.
“I think that the important thing is for the students to see where each of us [the presidential candidates] stand,” Hightower said. “It gives me a forum to get my message out.”
alix.pianin@columbiaspectator.com
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This is a joke! Hightower has been talking about running for President since October. He is a write-in because he couldn't get his request to run in on time! Is this the type of person that should be GSSC President? Someone who can't send an email? He has also filed an elections complaint every day and caused the delay in the debates and election. He is disorganized and out for personal gain and is NOT the type of President the GSSC wants or needs.
Funny thing, that: Hightower couldn't see fit to send a single on-time email to the election commission with his application, but he somehow manages to spam several hundred people at their Columbia email addresses, using what appears to be the same stolen list of addresses recently used by Niko Cunningham.
Also remember that Hightower rarely attended GSSC meetings this year... what will make next year different?
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