MSA inspector general plans to investigate Elections Commissioners
After handing down three infractions to Missouri Students Association presidential candidate Josh Travis in the past three days, the Board of Elections Commissioners finds itself under investigation by MSA's Office of Inspector General.
The Board of Elections Commissioners, which is responsible for maintaining fairness in MSA elections and taking disciplinary action against candidates, filed its second and third infractions, enough to remove a candidate from the ballot, against Travis on Wednesday. MSA's Office of Inspector General was created in November 2009 to conduct independent and objective audits, investigations and inspections, according to the MSA bylaws. Travis and MSA Senate Speaker Evan Wood co-authored the bill to create the position in fall 2009.
Shortly after midnight Thursday morning, executive BEC members Jacob Sloan, Xavier Billingsley and Logan Borgsmiller were notified via e-mail of the impending investigation.
"This message is to notify you that because of evidence recently brought forth, on this date Wednesday November 10, 2010, as per the authority granted this office...the Office of Inspector General has commissioned an investigation of the department/entity so titled 'Board of Elections Commisioners or BEC," said Inspector General Eric Hucker in the e-mail.
The e-mail gives three reasons for the investigation: whether the BEC gave the Josh Travis and Michelle Horan due process in its three reported infractions, whether the BEC overstepped its bounds of authority when it moved the date of the election on Nov. 8 to Nov. 15 and whether the BEC overstepped its bounds of authority in dealing with members of the Delta Gamma sorority involved in the first mass e-mail violation infraction against the Travis-Horan slate.
The e-mail gives no time frame as to Hucker's planned investigation other than that he aims to complete his investigation quickly. Hucker said he will interview many people related to the issue and subpoena various records pertaining to the three outlined issues.
Comments (7)
7:36 a.m., Nov. 11, 2010
Hot mess said:
I find it funny the position Josh created is the one charged with saving Josh...
7:49 a.m., Nov. 11, 2010
Concerned Student said:
Evan and Josh, Can you say "ABUSE OF POWER?" You cheat, you pay. You win this election and I have no faith in MSA knowing its highest office is held by a cheater who is good with rhetoric and some fancy speeches. -Concerned Student
8:17 a.m., Nov. 11, 2010
Matthew Wheeler said:
It's about damn time. There needs to be vastly more transparency. The student body is about ready to lose it with all those involved. Maybe Travis/Horan are being falsely accused, or maybe evil rule breakers, maybe Woods/Moon & Hansen/Oxenreider are defenders of the bylaws, or maybe ruthless fear-mongers, maybe the BEC are corrupt bureaucrats on a power trip, but we don't know because no one will lay out all the facts in public view. Time is of the essence here. The election is in less than a week. We MUST have all the facts to make an informed voting decision. Healthy democracy thrives in the light, shadow breeds only deceit.
9:14 a.m., Nov. 11, 2010
John Doe said:
The Inspector General is just a Just Travis and Evan Wood cronie! The two didn't just create it, but the Inspector General is in the John Travis posse. Again, as John Stossel says, "Give me a break!"
10:13 a.m., Nov. 11, 2010
Kevin said:
It's about time. The BEC's actions throughout this ordeal have been appalling.
11:50 p.m., Nov. 11, 2010
AnotherConcernedStudent said:
This 'mass' email was sent out to people in a few classes and it wasn't even sent by Horan. This doesn't seem to be in line with the intent of a regulation opposing mass emails. A mass email would have reached EVERY single student at Mizzou. Regardless of who is ultimately responsible for email, it at most warrants the temporary suspension of campaign privileges of Travis/Horan. This minor of an offense is poor justification for the delay of the election. It's about time BEC was audited because they are the ones abusing power here.
2:05 a.m., Nov. 11, 2010
Mark said:
Sloan should resign.