Students may have noticed that the official announcement of next term's Student Government (SG) president election has been delayed. Now let's see what slowed down the process.
Suryakant Prasad Gottipati and Sumit Subhash Jadhav won the election by securing 1,702 votes. However, the results were postponed after presidential candidates and runners-up Alexa Matos and Rithvik Lee Pak filed complaints.
A grievance is a complaint filed by a member of the student body when they believe a candidate has violated any of the campaign rules.
Related: USF Student Government Uncertified 2024 Election Results
judicial branch record It shows that the Supreme Court considered all complaints deemed to be in violation on April 16th.
The unanimous vote found that the claims against the pair and the tickets had no solid basis, according to the release. record.
The results of the election still need to be certified by the Election Rules Commission. Matos and Lee Pack have until 5pm Thursday to appeal the court's verdict.
Gottipati and Jadhav said in a statement to Oracle that they are “thrilled” to serve the student body next academic year.
“In a landmark decision that underscores the principles of justice and democracy in our student government, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in our favor, upholding our commitment to integrity and service. Confirmed,” they wrote.
Posted by Jadhav his personal instagram stories The two claimed they won Sunday night's election. Jadhav posted his Kanye West Award acceptance speech, saying, “Everyone wants to know what I'll do if I don't win, but I guess we'll never know.”
Jadhav also reposted a screenshot of a conversation between current SG chairman Cesar Esmeraldi, Esmeraldi, Gottipati, and himself.
But why was the complaint filed?
The trial was held on April 13th. Virtual sessions on Microsoft Teams and in person from 10 a.m. to noon in the Marshall Student Center SG Chamber will discuss filed complaints. Gottipatti and Jadhav.
complaint Mr. Matos and Mr. Lee Pack have filed complaints against their opponents, including:
- Intimidate or actively pressure a voter to vote in front of a candidate or ticket.
- Display a hyperlink or QR code that leads directly to the official voting software.
Mr. Matos and Mr. Lee Pack were represented by SG Prosecutor Kyla Smith. In his opening statement, Smith accused his opponent of hiring Senate Clerk Anubhav Gupta. Reach out to students on campus and strategically show them a QR code linked directly to your voting software.
Esmeraldi posted a video of Jadhav and Gupta on her Instagram Story on Monday, with the caption: “Celebrity spotted.”
The trial revolved around trying to uncover the relationship between the two of them, with witnesses called to testify about their interactions with him. Gottipatti and Jadhav.
Matos said that on the first day of voting, she was accosted by Gupta just 20 feet away from SG Computer Services. She submitted a video she recorded at the time as her evidence, but it did not show Ms. Gupta's face.
Mr. Jadhav said he was not aware that Mr. Gupta was walking around campus showing QR codes to students. He said Mr. Gupta was not supporting his and Mr. Gottipati's campaigns.
“I came to know about it after the complaint was filed,” Jadhav said. “We didn't ask him to do it.”
Matos said it took him a while to file a complaint because he was under the impression that Gupta was a staffer for the opposing campaign. She said Gupta spent the day taking photos of Gottipati and Jadhav during USF St. Pete's “Meet The Candidates” event.
Mr. Jadhav said Mr. Gupta was not specifically asked to take their photos.
There was no mention in cross-examination or in the judge's questioning of what Mr. Gupta had to gain from the situation if he were not his friend.
In his closing statement, SG prosecutor Brian Crown said Mr. Gupta's actions were not about Mr. Gottipati and Mr. Jadhav and that no one had any evidence that the candidates themselves were involved.
This is despite Mr Matos and Mr Lee Pack having until Thursday to appeal the court's decision to select Mr Gottipati and Mr Jadhav. In a statement to Oracle, Matos wrote that the two have no intention of doing so.
Matos wrote that this was a “perfect outcome” as she and Lee Pak were planning to decline their positions as president and vice president.
“I'm grateful that everything worked out in the end. I wish them the best of luck because it seems like there's a lot of work to do, but I'm glad it wasn't me,” Matos wrote.
