Editor’s note: In “Campaigns heat up over alleged
dishonesty” (News, April 17), the story said that “some
members” of the Graduate Student Association accused
presidential candidate Anthony Dunbar of lying during his campaign.
The story should have clarified that Shane Markstrum, forum
representative for the Engineering GSA, was the only person who
made such allegations.
Also, the article erroneously omitted the fact that
Markstrum’s allegation was discredited by Elections Chair
Tiffany Nurrenbern at GSA’s candidate debate on Friday, April
14.
The presidential race may be the only contested one of the
upcoming Graduate Students Association election, but campaigning is
heating up amid allegations that one candidate violated the only
major rule governing candidates’ behavior – no dishonesty.
During a debate Friday night, Shane Markstrum of the Engineering
Graduate Students Association accused presidential candidate
Anthony Dunbar of lying during his campaign about asking for
endorsements. Dunbar denies the allegations.
According to the GSA bylaws, candidates must only make or
distribute factually accurate statements and materials – in other
words, they cannot lie.
This policy is much looser than the election policies of the
Undergraduate Students Association Council, which place strict
restrictions on exactly how and when a candidate can campaign.
Dunbar has repeatedly said he is not seeking endorsements, and
that he will base his campaign solely on personal contact with
voters.
"I don’t want endorsement forms," he said. "I’m going out there
shaking as many hands as I can. I didn’t go get just enough
signatures (to get my name on the ballot). I set a record."
Dunbar is the only independent candidate running in the
election. All the other candidates, including Dunbar’s opponent in
the presidential race, are running together with the Students
Taking Action and Reenergizing GSA slate.
All current and former GSA officers and active GSA Forum members
may endorse candidates, according to GSA bylaws.
Current President Jared Fox said he has received three
complaints from GSA representatives that Dunbar violated his stated
campaign promise by soliciting endorsements, which would break the
GSA election rule forbidding dishonesty during campaigns.
Fox has already endorsed presidential candidate Monica Sanchez
Rivas, a doctoral student in education, and the other members of
STAR GSA.
In e-mails acquired by The Bruin which were sent to potential
endorsers, Fox referred to "ongoing personal problems and
complaints" with Dunbar and urged recipients to endorse Sanchez, as
well as the rest of her slate.
Flatly denying Fox’s allegation, Dunbar said he had been told
there were complaints against him but was never told what they
were.
"Jared basically wrote a screenplay (during Friday’s debate) of
all these hypothetical situations, insinuating that I had had all
this improper behavior," he said. "I told people not to give me
endorsements. I don’t need to cheat to win."
Though Dunbar said he was upset about the accusations, he
believes they were part of the larger issue of "dirty campaigning"
on the part of his opponent and her supporters.
Specifically, his opposition has resorted to personal attacks,
he said.
"I’m presuming they’re having trouble (with their own campaigns)
because instead of saying positive things about Monica, they had to
say negative things about me," he said.
"It’s not socially conscious and it’s insensitive. It’s hurting
GSA as a whole."
Though Dunbar said he has no plans to file official complaints
regarding the accusations or campaign practices of his opponents,
he will work to reassure voters of his qualifications and
character.
With reports from Amanda Semaan, Bruin contributor.