Election complaints keep pouring in
PantherVision still at odds with IEC at hearing
By Ryan Cardarella
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“I was offended by that comment. People need look no further than the 50 local, state and regional awards for journalistic excellence won by PantherVision students in recent years.” Senior Lecturer and PantherVision News Director Mark Zoromski on allegations of inappropriate behavior by his reporters conducting election coverage.
While the Student Association elections at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee may have officially concluded last Friday, accusations of campaigning violations have continued to fly between both parties. Representatives from the Students United for Change (SUFC) and Achieving Student Action through Progress (ASAP) parties filed complaints heard by Independent Elections Commissioner Dan Bahr on Thursday Afternoon.
SUFC Senator-Elect Kyle Duerstein filed a complaint accusing the ASAP party of illegally campaigning during the two-day elections, citing at least 120 flyers recovered by election officials denoting the names of ASAP candidates in the neutral voting area.
ASAP contends that they had already been disqualified from appearing on the ballot and were not subject to the constraints of election bylaws.
“We still need everyone to follow the election rules, even if you are off of the ballot,” said SUFC Sen. Kyle Duerstein, who argues that the flyers were a clear example of voting-day campaigning.
ASAP vice-presidential candidate Julio Guerrero stated that the party cut off the tops of the flyers containing the party name, and did everything that was asked of them in terms of compliance.
While no points were assessed, Bahr reiterated that the proper procedure would have been to have students write candidate names on their own personal property.
The fact that the ASAP party printed off of the sheets themselves is the main issue, making them illegal to bring into the voting area.
Allegations of bribery
Guerrero filed his own complaint against SUFC senator-elect candidate Brian Bromberek based on a Facebook message allegedly sent by Bromberek to UWM student Clarence Hayes.
In the message sent to Hayes, Bromberek asks for Hayes to help get “tons and tons of people to get out and vote for SUFC.”
According to the text, he asks for support in exchange for better Black Student Union funding and a larger office for Hayes’ frat. It also indicated that Bromberek would “owe him a solid.”
Bromberek contests that his Facebook account had recently been tampered with, and that he has a message from the site indicating this.
He asserts that he did not send the aforementioned message, and Bahr is awaiting a copy of the tampering message before making a judgment.
When asked about the message, Hayes confirmed he had received it last last week and that it "sounded like Brian." Hayes is no longer a member of the Black Student Union.
Tension between IEC and PantherVision
The hearing began with more tension evident between IEC Bahr and members of PantherVision, who were on hand to film the event.
Bahr initially indicated that the SA office was a reserved space and looked to kick PantherVision members out, with a discussion between the two parties and a Union Services official. However, Bahr eventually backed off and the hearing began.
Bahr has recently indicated his displeasure with PantherVision over what he called unprofessional behavior at the polls last week. He stated that the media coverage in the voting area amounted to voter intimidation, and reiterated his claim that members of PantherVision engaged in name-calling, referring to Bahr and SUFC as “corrupt.” Representatives of PantherVision strongly deny any such accusations. Senior Broadcast Journalism Lecturer at UWM and News Director of PantherVision Mark Zoromski defended the journalistic record of his students in a statement last week.
“I was offended by that comment. People need look no further than the 50 local, state and regional awards for journalistic excellence won by PantherVision students in recent years,” said Zoromski.
He also commented on his reporters being escorted out of Sandburg Halls and the Union during the student elections.
“Mr. Bahr’s actions were the actions of neither an independent election commissioner nor a public servant. They were the actions of a playground bully who thinks he has a big stick he can use to beat everyone’s constitutional rights to death. He does not,” said Zoromski.
As of press time, appeals filed by ASAP to the student court are still pending, along with point assessments from Bahr stemming from Thursday’s hearing.
> Comments
Typical UWM Post on Apr 28, 2008 at 12:17 AM:
Let's make the somebody out to be a constitutional offender, because we have our undies up in a bundle... grow up Ryan, and start writing about something relevant to UWM students.
Re:typical post on Apr 28, 2008 at 07:25 AM:
like the earth day letter to the editor!
Yay!!
Chris Walker on Apr 28, 2008 at 09:36 AM:
Would you rather we not report on this at all? It may surprise some of you, but not everyone is supportive of how the elections went down, including those who ran it and ran for office (within both parties, SUFC and ASAP). We're covering what happened, what allegations have been made, and so forth.
This is what news is; if allegations are made, if inquiries are held, and if complaints arise, we report on it.
weeee on Apr 28, 2008 at 10:04 AM:
Chris Walker: ... we report on it.
Fox News: We report. You decide.
UWM Post: We editorialize. No one gives a shit.
Cindy on Apr 28, 2008 at 05:18 PM:
Why is it PUNISHABLE for Students to know WHOM they are Voting for...?
I am thoroughly convinced that the SUFC & current Student Association do not want us to know what they do nor who they are... Is that why they tried to pass the SEDITION ACT in Feb 2008?
http://www.expressmilwaukee.com/article-935-sedition-at-uwm.html
Steph on Apr 28, 2008 at 05:23 PM:
I feel like the SUFC was afraid of losing the election, thus they had to do everything in the power that they have to get ASAP off the ballot.
Fair voting. Everyone should have a say regardless.
In the Estate of Fair Voting on Apr 28, 2008 at 06:14 PM:
All is lost. All is lost. All is lost. All is lost. All is lost.
Dan Bahr quote: on Apr 28, 2008 at 07:24 PM:
The actions already exposed are an embarrassment to the SUFC party, Mr. Bromberek and the entire SA. The IEC will not tolerate such abhorrent behavior. Accordingly, 200 points is assessed, 100 to Mr. Bromberek and 100 to SUFC respectfully.
.. even DVB hits the nail on the head once in a while...
re: Dan Bahr quote: on Apr 29, 2008 at 01:59 AM:
The ASAP writer above does not seem to mind that Dan Bahr used the "preponderance of the evidence" standard when he assessed points against SUFC and Brian Bromberek as cited above.
Heaven knows they bitched about it to high heaven when he used the same standard against ASAP. Interesting, that they now feel he has "hit the nail on the head" IN THEIR OWN WORDS!!
But you claim he is so UNFAIR?? Apparently not ASAP! To you, it’s only fair when you agree.
That’s fine, YOU STILL LOST!!!
hey cindy.... on Apr 29, 2008 at 02:09 PM:
Are you even an enrolled student?
Dan Bahr is a Cunt on May 01, 2008 at 12:56 AM:
My name is Dan Bahr, I am 30 years old and I still go to UWM, I am a big fat CUNT, and I like to puff my chest and proclaim that I am a Democrat, even though I disrespect the press and other freedoms.
Dan Bahr is Not! on May 01, 2008 at 01:19 AM:
the job of the IEC is very difficult!
Stop beating up on Bahr!
re: Dan Bahr is a Cunt on May 01, 2008 at 06:57 AM:
Some people just do not deal with defeat well. I am sure Mr. Bahr is not at a lack of sleep over the election outcome. Ha Ha Ha.
There was no Election Defeat! on May 01, 2008 at 05:00 PM:
There was no defeat IDIOT because Dan Bahr saw that the competition was eliminated. Many of us didn't even turn out to vote because sadly only SUFC was on the ballot. Dan pulled the total points assessed out of his "unbiased" ass ensuring that SUFC remains on the ballot without any competition. Dan is 30! Isn't time to grow up, Dan?
A.J. on May 01, 2008 at 07:47 PM:
Dan Bahr is 27. Perhaps you should read about ASAP's multiple violations. Perhaps you don't agree with his assessments, but Bahr is the IEC and you are not. Deal with it.
James Harrington and John Adams on May 03, 2008 at 07:19 PM:
Hey AJ
Empire of laws, not of men.
Ed on May 03, 2008 at 09:05 PM:
Ask AJ to look you in the eyes sometime.
Shashank on May 04, 2008 at 12:44 PM:
I'm an international student, and this was my first year at UWM. The way the elections were held was a total fiasco in my opinion and if this happens in the country that champions democracy around the world, then God save democracy. I hope the people from the current SA government never hold public offices ever.
I would like to commend UWM Post for bringing us all the news about the SA. Keep up the good work.