Committee to consider appeal
By Danny Gillham
Staff Reporter

Student Government Association adviser Larry Markley said Tuesday SGA presidential candidate Blake Eason should not have disclosed he was running for president when he resigned as parliamentarian at SGA’s Oct. 14 meeting.

Eason, a junior finance major, was censured Sunday night by the House Judiciary Board, which ruled his announcement of his presidential candidacy was in direct violation with election codes.

“It is my understanding that his verbal resignation constituted as a candidacy violation,” Markley said. “He then also gave an interview with the Skiff, and that was considered campaigning, which cannot start until a specific time.”

Markley said Eason did act properly in resigning his post, in order to avoid a conflict of interest.

Eason met with the judiciary board again Tuesday night but said he thinks they will not make a decision on his case.

“I believe they will turn it over to the (Student Organizations Committee) (today), and they will decide,” Eason said. “I will state my position, and I think they will provide documents for (the committee).”

Eason said unless the decision is overturned, neither he or his campaign representatives will be able to speak on his behalf.

“Basically, I am not allowed to talk to anyone,” said Eason after Tuesday night’s SGA meeting, while on his way to meeting with the judiciary board. “I just want to be able to share my platform with everyone and let them know why I want to be their president.”

Elections and Regulations Chairman Nick James said Eason did appeal Tuesday night but that the appeal was not the purpose of the judiciary board’s meeting.

James, a junior political science major, said the 10-member judiciary board consists of four house members, three non-house members, a member of Campus Life, SGA parliamentarian John Athon and himself, who serves as chairman.

James said Eason will not be allowed to speak to any organizations before elections, which take place Nov. 11. He did, however, allow Eason to speak at a question-and-answer session Tuesday night.

“That event had been set up for over two months,” James said. “Each candidate was promised a spot to speak.”

Markley said people he has spoken with feel Eason’s resignation as parliamentarian was a premeditated announcement, allowing him to get a head start on his competitors.

Current SGA President Brad Thompson said the week before the election is an important time.

“It’s the chance to go out to all the different organizations and let them know who you are and what you’re about,” said Thompson, a senior radio-TV-film major.

Eason said he is scheduled to meet with the Student Organizations Committee at noon today. He said the issue may eventually reach Don Mills, vice chancellor for student affairs.