Advertisement

News, Views and Careers for All of Higher Education

June 15, 2005

The Bush v. Gore of Student Government Elections

The student body president’s race at the University of Kentucky is starting to look a little like another presidential race. The action is shifting from one court to another, with both sides claiming that the will of the voters may be ignored, and that procedures have been trampled. The judicial proceedings have now left the campus and landed in state court, where a judge on Tuesday barred the university from swearing in the official victor.

Looking for a job?
See all 212 new postings
Browse all job listings:
Faculty: 3,466
Administrative: 1,661
Executive: 159
FEATURED EMPLOYERS
Post a job

Related stories

At issue is whether the university administration has the authority to be the final arbiter of appeals.

Will Nash defeated Becky Ellingsworth by 171 votes (out of thousands cast) in March, but Ellingsworth challenged the results, arguing that Nash violated various rules, including spending limits. There were also reports of campaign posters being torn down.

The case then went to the student government’s judicial system, where first one board and then the Student Supreme Court threw out Nash’s win, making Ellingsworth the new president. But Nash then appealed to a university appeals board, which found that the student government’s judicial system was “fatally flawed” and recommended to the university administration that Nash be declared the winner since he had more votes.

The university did that, and Ellingsworth sued. The state judge who ruled in her favor today did not rule on the merits of the case, but blocked Nash from being sworn in, as had been scheduled today, until more hearings are held. The head of the student government at Kentucky also serves on the university’s Board of Trustees, and Nash was to be officially welcomed to the board at a meeting today.

Ellingsworth’s suit charges that the university must follow the decisions of the Student Supreme Court, which declared her the victor.

Although Ellingsworth won a round on Tuesday, the university is confident that its authority will be upheld.

A university spokesman noted that previous violations of election rules have been punished through community service requirements, not disqualification from election. “We were disappointed by the ruling today, but it has been and continues to be the university’s position that we have the right to hear appeals from students, faculty and staff, and the university has the right to act on those appeals,” he said.

— Scott Jaschik

Got something to say?


Want it on paper? Print this page.
Know someone who’d be interested? Forward this story.
Want to stay informed? Sign up for free daily news e-mail.

Advertisement

Comments

More information must be included regarding this story. Becky Ellingsworth also broke the election rules by overspending during the campaign. She was punished by the Student Board of Claims with much lesser a sentence (paying a small fine). The Student Board of Claims and the Student Supreme Court are comprised of appointed members by previous student government members. For the past four years, the core supporters of Ellingsworth have made up the majority of the Senate. It’s her people disqualifying Nash. Her people want to exercise the authority that they do not have. The University Student Supreme Court and Student Government all have to follow university rules and regulations. Ellingsworth is setting herself up for a disaster.

Tim Potter, Campaign Manager for Nash/Bishop, at 5:33 pm EDT on June 15, 2005

Advertisement

 Jobs Related to The Bush v. Gore of Student Government Elections

or search for jobs directly.

Assistant or Associate Professor of Economics
Gordon College

Gordon College Department of Economics and Business Position Announcement Microeconomics The Department of Economics and ... see job

Assistant Professor
NC State University

Join the Pack! A community with nearly 8,000 faculty and staff, and 30,000 students. NC State is one of the largest employers ... see job

Assistant Professor of Physical Chemistry
University of Puget Sound

Teaching responsibilities include physical chemistry courses (quantum mechanics and thermodynamics), physical chemistry ... see job

Tenured Law Faculty
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota is a premier employer and a talent magnet attracting leading faculty and staff from around the ... see job

International Politics ASSISTANT PROFESSOR (TENURE-TRACK)
American University

American University is an independent liberal-arts university located in Washington, DC with 12,000 students. The faculty are ... see job

Faculty Position- Department of Exercise and Sport Science
Azusa Pacific University

Azusa Pacific University seeks applications for Department of Exercise and Sport Science. see job

Program Coordinator II
University of Georgia

Job Summary The International Center organizes training for public officials in China in several areas of ... see job

Admissions Representative
Corinthian Colleges

Everest College, a respected member of the Corinthian Colleges’ network of schools, is dedicated to helping students ... see job

Adjunct Faculty: Spring 2009
Carroll Community College

ADJUNCT FACULTY Adjunct faculty needed for the Spring 2009 Semester to begin February 2, 2009, to teach day (D) and evening ... see job

Electronic Art Faculty
University of California, Santa Cruz

The Art Department (http://art.ucsc.edu/) of the University of California, ... see job