"I do not know what effect my accusers have had upon you, gentlemen, but for my own part I was almost carried away by them; their arguments were so convincing. On the other hand, scarcely a word of what they said was true." -- Socrates, in Plato's Apology
Student Government has recently alleged that seven students "double-voted" in the recent SG election.
Despite years of evidence and arguments that SG elections have been tampered with - nothing has been done to rectify the situation. Now, when some students felt compelled to prove beyond a doubt the ease with which electoral fraud could be conducted, SG is seeking action.
What kind of action? According to Karl Liebman, "chancellor" of the "honor court," SG intends on seeking punishments which may include expulsion!
What Liebman threatens, however, is not in his power to do. And it further violates the rights of the seven accused students. Liebman and the "honor court" also violated the rights of the students by releasing information about this matter to the media thus denying the confidentiality that procedures require.
It seems that the "Trial of the UF-Seven is not the only matter in which the SG officials have sought to use their power illegally. Accountable to no one--and consistently refusing to follow their own laws--they now want to force other students to accept their authority.
In the Student Senate, the majority Focus party is attempting to use its overwhelming size to eliminatevoices in opposition.
Senator Jeff Kostik of the Independent Majority, the minority in Senate, has recently come under attack by the Affairs and Ethics Committee. On no less than three occasions, using three separate charges, the Senate has sought to expel Sen. Kostik.
What they fail to mention is that the A&E Committee has admitted that Kostik was not in violation of the statute in question. Due process seems to be a right alien to the majority Focus party, as Focus Senator Cori Siansky has claimed that the Student Senate can make its own rules and does not have to follow due process.