Election commission rejects IFC plan

On the eve of the Duke Student Government elections, DSG's Election Commission met to consider two separate complaints alleging inappropriate campaign conduct in the presidential race.

In a late-night 3-2 ruling, the commission blocked the Interfraternity Council's Get Out and Vote Campaign, under which the fraternity with the highest percentage of voting members would receive $250 for their national philanthropy project. In the other decision, candidate Amir Rashid-Farokhi was cleared of alleged improprieties at a campaign event.

"The members in favor of turning down the [IFC] proposal felt that there is too strong of a connection between the Get Out and Vote Campaign... and the endorsed [IFC] candidates," said Trinity senior Adam Berg, DSG attorney general.

The decision forbids IFC from implementing its incentive plan.

"Personally, I think it's somewhat ridiculous," said Niels Peetz-Larsen, Trinity junior and IFC executive vice president for chapter services, who spoke at the meeting. "I'm fairly certain that... members of fraternities have enough personal responsibility to go out and vote on their own."

The incentive proposal was submitted to DSG for approval Monday; presidential candidate and Trinity junior Christopher Brandt filed a formal complaint immediately thereafter. Brandt, who could not attend the hearing, said he was pleased with the ruling.

Many found the initiative reminiscent of last year's IFC-sponsored dues refund plan, which prompted formal DSG censure for inappropriately linking its endorsement of Jeri Powell with its incentive scheme.

But Trinity junior Ken Collins, IFC vice president for rush and pledging and the organization's primary spokesperson at the hearing, minimized the connection between the voter initiative and the election's outcome.

But Collins responded that the plan was only conceived last weekend, and added that IFC does not have the resources for campus-wide outreach.

Presidential candidate Ben Kennedy, Trinity junior and DSG vice president for academic affairs, said IFC's plan is designed to promote its endorsed candidates. "You don't get more influence by having your members go out and vote for a wide variety of candidates," he said.

The commission also considered a complaint filed by Trinity senior Bianca Motley against Rashid-Farokhi alleging improprieties at an event at which he appeared.

Rashid-Farokhi, current vice president for facilities and athletics and a Trinity junior, was the only candidate at the Monday night event in Trent Dormitory, which was advertised with fliers and offered pizza and drinks. Under election by-laws, personal or campaign funds cannot be used for food, all fliers must be approved by the DSG commission and the candidate's budget effectively limits the number of copies that can be made.

But because the event was organized and advertised by someone unaffiliated with his campaign, the commission voted 5-0 that Rashid-Farokhi did not break any by-laws.

However, Berg added, "We admonish his campaign for not being as careful as possible."

Rashid-Farokhi could not be reached for comment on the ruling. In an earlier statement he wrote, "It is unfortunate that the politics of personal destruction have made their way to the DSG election.... I have from day one run a clean campaign."

Motley, last year's vice president for student affairs, declined to comment on what motivated her complaint.