A Better Carleton vice-president (finance) candidate Michael De Luca received the first executive electoral violation of the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) elections Feb. 15, according to the chief electoral officer (CEO).
De Luca campaigned in a class Feb. 13 without seeking permission from the professor, which violates section 14.0 and 14.1 of the electoral code, according to an email sent by CEO Sean Finn.
Candidates can campaign as long as they don’t commit an offence, such as interfering “with the operation of seminars, laboratories, offices, other normal functions of the university or addressing a class without prior permission of the instructor,” the code states.
De Luca said he was surprised by the violation.
“I’m very familiar with the rule; it’s a very basic rule,” he said. “I’ve abided by it every day of this campaign,” he said. “I’ve always asked professors permission and when they give it I speak, when they don’t I leave. It’s never been otherwise.”
De Luca said he’s already given notice that he intends to appeal the decision.
