The student trustee appeals committee rejected the appeal of student trustee candidate Yvette Johnson Monday, despite pleas from Shakedown Party members and Black Affairs Committee officials that the first-time candidate remain on the 1998 ballot.

Johnson was declared ineligible to run for student trustee last week because she had not completed a full semester at SIUC and did not have the 300 signatures needed to get on the ballot.

The three-member committee made its decision on the basis that her eligibility for the position was not affected by errors made by the Student Trustee Election commissioner Kris Bein.

Advertisement

In a press conference Friday, Johnson said that because other trustee election by-laws had not been followed she should be placed back on the ballot. Johnson argued that the student trustee election packets did not contain the election by-laws and the petition she turned in had almost 350 signatures.

Johnson was supported in her efforts by Shakedown Party presidential candidate Rob Taylor, vice presidential candidate Pat Kelly, and BAC coordinator Tiffany Thomas.

If we could turn back the clock and change the errors made by the commissioner she [Johnson] would still be ineligible. said Tim Hoerman, Graduate and Professional Student Council president and member of the appeals committee.

Hoerman said the errors did not cause her ineligibility so the committee decided to uphold the Bein’s decision.

Johnson said she was disappointed about the decision but was not giving up. She would not elaborate on her exact plans..

All my efforts are not exhausted and I am still trying to do something. Johnson said. I can understand the decision.

Two wrongs don’t make a right, but I still think I should be on the ballot.

Advertisement*

USG Sen. Mike Ruta and pre-medicine student Bob Hanfland are the two candidates on the ballot for student trustee.