Spring Break
UJ accepts case against Secretary
by Claire Moses
News | 10/2/07
Posted online at 8:12 PM EST on 10/1/07
/ Last updated at 5:40 AM EST on 10/1/07
The Union Judiciary announced Sunday evening that a student's case against Student Union Secretary Michael Goldman '08-which claims Goldman violated the Union Constitution when he leaked voting tallies during two voting periods-will be heard publicly by Friday.
The senate issued a censure during the Sept. 23 meeting to Goldman, condemning his behavior and removing his ability to view the elections software as elections commissioner. Goldman admitted to disclosing voting tallies to at least one candidate in the spring 2006 election and to several friends of a candidate in last month's election.
Goldman didn't respond to multiple requests for comment Monday about his impending hearing.
Rivka Maizlish '10 said she filed the claim after Village Quad Senator Michael Kerns '09 explained the situation to her and encouraged her to do so. She added that she knew nothing about the controversy until Kerns told her about it.
"I just did this because I thought it was the right thing to do," Maizlish said. "I didn't really know what would come of it."
The claim states that Goldman violated the Constitution on two counts, including disclosing voting tallies and appointing Rajiv Ramakrishnan '10 to be a technology assistant without Senate approval. It also says the senate stepped outside its scope of power when it removed Goldman's ability to access the software, but the UJ rejected this claim. As technology assistant, Ramakrishnan would be able to access the software in Goldman's stead.
"This is one of the most epic trials in Brandeis history," UJ Chief Justice Jamie Ansorge '09 said.
An opposing claim was filed by Sam Dewey '06, a former UJ chief justice, Albert Cahn '07 and Jacob Baime '08, the UJ's counsel of record, which questioned the legitimacy of the case against Goldman. The UJ rejected their claim before deciding to proceed with the case.
"In a dramatic departure from past practice, the UJ has informed us that they will not read our brief before deciding whether or not to grant certiorari," Baime wrote in an e-mail to the Justice Sunday night.
The senate issued a censure during the Sept. 23 meeting to Goldman, condemning his behavior and removing his ability to view the elections software as elections commissioner. Goldman admitted to disclosing voting tallies to at least one candidate in the spring 2006 election and to several friends of a candidate in last month's election.
Goldman didn't respond to multiple requests for comment Monday about his impending hearing.
Rivka Maizlish '10 said she filed the claim after Village Quad Senator Michael Kerns '09 explained the situation to her and encouraged her to do so. She added that she knew nothing about the controversy until Kerns told her about it.
"I just did this because I thought it was the right thing to do," Maizlish said. "I didn't really know what would come of it."
The claim states that Goldman violated the Constitution on two counts, including disclosing voting tallies and appointing Rajiv Ramakrishnan '10 to be a technology assistant without Senate approval. It also says the senate stepped outside its scope of power when it removed Goldman's ability to access the software, but the UJ rejected this claim. As technology assistant, Ramakrishnan would be able to access the software in Goldman's stead.
"This is one of the most epic trials in Brandeis history," UJ Chief Justice Jamie Ansorge '09 said.
An opposing claim was filed by Sam Dewey '06, a former UJ chief justice, Albert Cahn '07 and Jacob Baime '08, the UJ's counsel of record, which questioned the legitimacy of the case against Goldman. The UJ rejected their claim before deciding to proceed with the case.
"In a dramatic departure from past practice, the UJ has informed us that they will not read our brief before deciding whether or not to grant certiorari," Baime wrote in an e-mail to the Justice Sunday night.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Al Royals
posted 10/02/07 @ 2:05 PM EST
A few factual corrections/elaborations:
1) Goldman has not admitted to revealing vote totals in the most recent election. He has admitted to commenting to two worrying friends of a candidate "Your friend is safe. (Continued…)
Post a Comment