Eugene, Ore.- Week two of spring term allowed for a chaotic atmosphere on and around campus while the two parties competing for office rallied for student attention using loud music and puppies to bring in votes.

United Oregon and Ducks for a Difference were the two parties campaigning this week for power in the ASUO. Sam Dotters-Katz, one of the two presidential candidates, said he ran for president “one more time because I wanted to try and bring student leaders on both sides of the political spectrum, so that’s the main thing that we’re working on.” While other presidential candidate Lamar Wise outlined his passion for the position: “Honestly I have a heart for the people and for what I do here and for the ASUO.”

On Friday, just after the 3:30 pm the last day of the election, the student court issued a judicial order postponing the results of the election until it could review the grievances showing evidence to prove that both campaign parties had bribed voters. Due to the evidence that both campaigns were distributing t-shirts with the objective of getting student votes, the ASUO Constitution Court ruled that “both campaigns have violated the ASUO Election Rules because they have failed to comply with Oregon election laws.”

The court summarized the ORS 260.665 law, in which both parties evidently failed to comply, to mean that nothing of value can be given to an individual with the intent to influence how that individual votes — or whether that individual votes at all. Even though this act of bribery amongst the campaigners is grounds for scheduling a reelection, Vice President of Student Affairs Robin Holmes reversed the ASUO Constitution Court’s ruling, and the results of the elections were made public showing United Oregon and Dotters-Katz beat out Lamar Wise in the presidential election by 426 votes.

Kelcie Goetsch, DuckTV News