NEXUS ISSUE 19 2014

NEWS
nexus magazine
FIRST, LET’S KILL ALL THE LAWYERS
- SHAKESPEARE
SARA LEMME
—
There is a phrase in Latin, “duci novo, similis duci seneci” which, roughly translated,
means “Meet the new boss same as the old boss.” That was seemingly the case after
the WSU election when VP Shannon Stewart was appointed as the new President
of the WSU for 2015.
Nexus understands that the declaration of a winner has been challenged this
week by a group of six members (including candidates Zanian Steele, Tau Marsden,
Jadeine Mcleod and Pape Barrett) who supplied us with a copy of a full thirty two
page document with supported legal affidavits, alleging a number of candidates
have failed to comply with the rules.
It seems that even the simple act of getting elected has the requisite level of
drama attached that has dogged the WSU throughout the course of the year.
According to Zanian Steele, if action is not taken now then it is a tacit endorsement
of the behaviour. “I think the reason we decided to do this is that we feel if
we don’t set a precedent now then it is just going to get worse and worse in the
years to come.”
“It seems really unfair and we just feel that there is a causal link between
Shannon’s actions and the results.”
The complainants’ contention is that a number of candidates, including President-
Elect Shannon Stewart and Vice-President-Elect Roy Mazorodze, knowingly and
willingly violated the rules of campaigning. This particularly refers to soliciting votes
through social media during the election period and a party held at one of the
candidate’s houses during the election period. The complainants are seeking the
disqualification of those candidates.
Zanian cited the 2008 decision where a court overturned the returning officer of
the Otago University Student Association and disqualified a candidate who had put
on free kegs at a pub and then enticed people to vote for them online.
“While some of the details are slightly different we feel that the intent and the
effect were the same. This was a party at Roy’s house where free beer was provided
by a number of candidates and then participants were encouraged on the event’s
page the next day by candidates to remember to vote.”
Nexus was informed that over 20 complaints were received prior to the certification
of the election, some with attached screenshots showing the alleged violations
which were said to include Facebook messages sent through Halls of Residence
soliciting votes for a particular candidate or voting block during the three days
and encouraging people to declare themselves as sick so that they can vote online.
In a statement released by Returning Officer Michael Tuck at the time of certification,
he notes that complaints included but were not limited to:
* Personal campaign material remaining on campus during the election period;
* Personal electioneering carried out during the election period;
* Use of social media to promote candidates during the election period;
* Non-observation of the rules of fair play as notified by the Returning Officer.
Mr Tuck further noted that that a committee had reviewed each allegation but
a number of complaints were not proven substantiated to the satisfaction of the
Returning Officer- although he suggested he would not impede individuals pursuing
further action if they wished.
Apparently some of them did wish.
Should the certified election result stand the board would consist of: Shannon
Stewart (President), Roy Mazorodze (Vice-President) Taha Tangitu-Huata
(VP-Maori), Melissa Hughes, Tau Marsden, Sophie Millar, Zanian Steele, Teina
Walters. Indula Jayasundara, Kate Lunn, and Pape Barrett (Directors).
At present the full certified results are:
President
Tau Marsden 633 votes, Shannon Stewart 723 votes
Vice-President
Zanian Steele 588 votes, Roy Mazorodze 660
Vice-President Maori
Taha Tangitu-Huata 970
Candidates
Melissa Hughes 478, Tau Marsden 400, Sophie Millar 399, Zanian Steele 303,Teina
Walters 301, Indula Jayasundara 289, Kate Lunn 285, Pape Barrett 277, Julius
Daniels-Mata 272, Kale Isaac 272, Kaelyn Kingi 250, Shaun Letcher 242, Jadeine
Mcleod 228, Nicole Jeune 203, Daniel Farrell 202, Johnny Ryan 192, Moses Simpson
190, Matthew Rae 180, Sheril Matthew 172, Candice Gollan 159, Anna O’Dea 147,
Sam Marelich 145, Abbey Trewavas 141, Beth Pearsall-Peters 136, Leonard Harris 77
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