Former “The We Party II” candidate Elisha Diaz, center, waits for the results of the SGA election along with president-elect and REDvolution member Shaun Smith, left, and former independent candidate Sam Perez. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar
The Student Government Association runoff election, originally scheduled for tomorrow and Wednesday, has been cancelled. Elisha Diaz, “The We Party II” presidential candidate, announced on Facebook today that he and his running mate are dropping out of the race.
REDvolution member Shaun Smith has been elected president of the Student Government Association’s 52nd administration, with his running mate, Chowdhury, as vice president.
“We’re both distinctly excited about serving the students in this next administration, I think that SGA had had a lot of ups and downs in the last year or so and we’re looking to bring a fresh perspective and a fresh approach to how student advocacy is done on campus.” Smith said.
“Hopefully this means people understand that all I ever wanted to do was be myself and be the most genuine person I can be, nothing more,” Diaz said in an Facebook post. “There will be people that will use this as an excuse to say that what I did was wrong, and that’s okay, they can say what they want.”
His decision was made after a private conversation between himself Chowdhury in Cougar Village II was published on YouTube early Sunday morning and circulated on social media throughout the day.
After the recording was published, some accused Chowdhury of coercing Diaz to drop out of the runoff race in exchange for an SGA senatorial position. Diaz admitted to recording Chowdhury without his knowledge “to protect himself.”
But both candidates have been blasted with criticism — Chowdhury for coercion and Diaz for violating the Student Code of Conduct Section 3.21, which prohibits “photographing, videotaping, filming, digitally recording… another person without that person’s consent in any location where the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, or in a manner that violates a reasonable expectation of privacy.”
“I want to make it clear that I will not be accepting the offer made to me by Tanzeem, and will instead work to make the differences needed on this campus without any leadership titles, even if it means changing the lives of the students, one person at a time,” Diaz said in the post.
Smith and Chowdhury will be sworn in at the SGA banquet on March 31.
-Additional reporting by Cara Smith
inb4 the shit storm
At least now, people will finally stop all the SGA drama that they normally would not have started. It seems that the only time the average student even cares about SGA is during the election.
In light of recent news, I am surprised that Shaun Smith is left as the SGA President-elect. He is affiliated with an organization that is condoning racism and racial slurs also known as “SAE”. I hope more people bring this to light and question is character and judgement for choosing to remain in such an organization in light of recent events.
deja vu?
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Fraud-roils-UH-election-3442410.php
sus sus sus SUS SUS SUSSSS SUSSSS
THIS IS SUSSSSSSSS
SUSPECT
SUSPECT
SUSPECT
SUSPECT
MOST SUSPECT
Once again RedVolution has frauded their way through another election. This would happen to be about the 4th election in a row. No one talks about how the SGA covered up the fact that Sam Perez (3rd place candidate) filed a complaint against the Redvolution Party after Elisha Diaz conceded to now go into a runoff against Redvolution. The Attorney General (Redvolution Appointed) and the Election Commissioner both denied the appeal. The Election Commission Rules state
Section V.E.1 – A candidate running for campus-wide office (President and Vice President or an At-large Senate seat) must receive a majority (50%+1 vote) of the votes cast to be seated.
Section V. E. 3 – If a candidate is disqualified after the ballot is finalized any vote cast for that candidate will be still tallied in the total votes used to determine the percentage majority.
Clearly Shaun Smith did not get 50% +1 majority vote (he received 49.5%), therefore he should not be seated. Second since Elisha Diaz conceded (disqualified) his votes still go toward the general election so therefore a runoff still must be held yet the Redvolution cabinet covered this up with their own Attorney General. The Daily Cougar was too aware of this claim and did not report on this as well. Sounds like the good ol’ boy network to me.
The Election Commissioner responsibilities
Section II.B.4 ii. Remain impartial to any candidates or parties participating in the election.
I believe our election commissioner was not being impartial in his decision to agree to appeal the decision to go into a runoff the Perez/Selvidge and gave Redvolution the victory. Corruption is evident in UH SGA. It is Disgusting!