Dunn and Pratt (left) represented the electoral board at Kyereh-Addo’s (right) second appeal ( Photo: C.J. Roussakis )

 

The Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) constitutional board heard Bruce Kyereh-Addo’s case March 24 on why he believes he should not have been disqualified from the February elections.

Kyereh-Addo and his colleague Emile Scheffel presented arguments against allegations that included destruction of property, from a hole in the wall near the elections office.

They also appealed the neutrality of the electoral board members Chelsea Dunn and Mike Wiseman, as well as chief electoral officer Heather Murley, on the grounds that they work in the CUSA office or service centres and report to executive members who ran in this year’s CUSA election.

Dunn, chair of the electoral board, was present to defend the decisions of that board. James Pratt, CUSA executive director, was also at the proceedings acting as an advisory to the electoral board at their request, he told the constitutional board.

Members of the Because It Matters slate, Shewit Kalaty and Charlos Chacón, who lost to Jessica Vasquez and Nick Bergamini in the election, also appealed to the board.

They said that because their opponents on the Demand Better slate both had three electoral violations, they too should have been disqualified from the election.

“Three is three is three,” Chacón said.

Dean Tester also presented a case disputing the ban on audio/video material in the election. He said he believes it violates the CUSA electoral policy, human rights codes and common sense.

The board closed the meeting following all appeals to deliberate. Chair Kweku Winful said a decision would be posted within seven days of the hearing.

If the constitutional board does not rule in favour of Kyereh- Addo, he said he is planning on taking the case to court.

“I have to fight for the students that voted for me. The students demanded what they wanted to see,” Kyereh-Addo said.

The Charlatan will have a full story March 26 and updates as they happen at charlatan.ca.