Board of Elections hears concerns

The candidates for student body president have taken on a range of opinions in their opposition to the online petitioning method used by the Ian Lee campaign.

At a meeting Friday with four of the six declared candidates, the Board of Elections acted as a mediator between Lee and the other candidates, who cited fairness and possible Student Code violations in their arguments against the online petition.

“I don’t approve of it because it doesn’t get you out there talking to the students,” candidate Rick Ingram said in an interview. “It just separates Ian from the process.”

Billy Kluttz, Rick Ingram’s campaign manager, questioned the fairness of the process, which other candidates have yet to adopt.

“My concern is that we were not aware that this was allowed,” Kluttz said. “It’s an unfair advantage.”

Mary Cooper, also a candidate, cited conflicts with Title VI of the Student Code, which prohibits candidates from campaigning in certain areas where students would be able to sign the online petition.

“Title VI is here to protect the students during the signing of petitions,” Cooper said at the meeting. “Now you’re able to sign them on your own time but in buildings and areas where petitions aren’t allowed.”

Lee launched his new signature gathering process Thursday. The board has yet to declare it legal.

Candidates for student body president are required to submit at least 1,250 collected signatures to the board by Tuesday at 5 p.m. in order to appear on the ballot.

Andrew Phillips, the board’s chairman, organized the meeting to answer candidates’ questions.

He said those with formal complaints were welcome to file them with the board after the meeting.

No official complaints had been filed as of Sunday evening, he said. Phillips said Sunday that the board would meet and draft a statement about its legality. At press time, that statement was not available.

At the meeting, Lee and his platform manager, Kevin Kimball, explained the electronic process and said students must provide their Onyen and PID to authenticate their signature, which is then time stamped and not shared with anyone outside the campaign.

Lee defended his system, saying the online petition uses the same system students use to vote.

“It’s more convenient than having us knock on your door,” he said.

Lee said he contacted Phillips before launching the new system to assure its security.

Candidate Brooklyn Stephens also questioned the legality of the online process but said she had confidence in the board.

Dylan Gilroy, a candidate, said he thinks electronic signature gathering is a “great idea.”

Candidate Joey Guy was not available for comment.

The board also heard other concerns about Lee over the weekend. Those included sending unsolicited e-mails to students requesting online signatures and questions regarding Lee’s status as student body secretary during the campaign.

Contact the University Editor at university@dailytarheel.com.