Tim Lussier

NICOLE KATO

Copy editor

A fall special election for Student Body President of the Student Government Association will be a rematch after a complaint regarding the spring vote led to President-elect Yasemin Karabudak’s removal.

Karabudak and her opponent in the spring election, Tim Lussier, have both said they will run for president again in elections scheduled for Sept. 26-28.

In April, Karabudak emerged the victor in the general election for president with 809 votes, just 75 votes ahead of Lussier’s 734.

However, allegations of inconsistencies in Karabudak’s petition to run for president were brought against her at a Student Senate meeting, and in May the Student Judicial Council (SJC) invalidated the election. (For more information, see www.hpu.edu/sga).

Karabudak, who was previously the international student senator, was originally vying for the College of Humanities and Social Science senator position for the 2011-2012 academic year. But after securing the 40 signatures needed to be eligible to run, she removed the title of “College of Humanities and Social Science senator” on her application and changed it to “student body president.”

The Student Judicial Council determined that the students who signed Karabudak’s petition were unaware of the changes made to her petition after signing it, thus violating the statement on page 9 of the general election packet: “I certify that these 40 signatures are all accurate and true.”

Outgoing Student Body President Saige Martin and Anne Haugaard, Martin’s chief of staff, took the case before the SJC in May. According to Martin, on May 11 he called a special business meeting at the request of several Senate members with the intent of impeaching Karabudak.

Natural and computational sciences senator Sara Duncan made the motion to impeach Karabudak. In a vote of six ayes, one nay and two abstentions, the SGA motion to impeach Karabudak was upheld.

Martin also requested that Lussier, as runner-up, be declared as the official winner. The SJC also decided to hold a new election.

Bryan Medina, the new natural and computational sciences senator, believes the staff and students involved executed everything properly and efficiently.

“The proper route to impeach her was taken … It was unanimous that she breached her petition and collected signatures illegal for her campaign as president,” Medina said.

Campaigning for the upcoming election, Lussier said this is an unprecedented time of change and a chance to move forward at HPU. He said he feels he has what it takes to listen to the needs of the students and effectively work toward finding solutions.

“HPU needs a student leader that will listen to the issues of the campus and be a true voice for them to our college administration,” Lussier added.

During the spring 2011 campaign, Lussier and some of the senators in SGA created the “Reform Ticket,” a group that focuses on efficiency, transparency, opportunities and empowerment for the HPU administration, SGA, students and the HPU community.

“I don’t think the status quo is acceptable for HPU,” Lussier said.

Karabudak, meanwhile, said she wishes to make SGA stronger by adding to the constitution and making improvements to both the downtown and Hawaii Loa campuses.

She said after seeing how much support she got from fellow students as well as faculty, she is confident about winning again.

Source via: https://www.facebook.com/notes/hpu-kalamalama/rematch-in-new-sga-election/198487476887258