Nate Raymond briefly mentioned the fall 2002 Student Regent election in his Nov. 16 article about recent Florida-style ASUAF elections. I was the candidate for student regent who was first disqualified and then reinstated in that election.

I was one of two winners, but don't take the ASUAF website's word for it. They show the official tally as Walker with 165 votes, and Arnesen (me) as a write-in, with 11. Those are the only candidates listed. Now anybody who was here then knows there were actually five candidates, I wasn't a write-in, and Walker was not the winner at all. He came in fifth, and that's why he would benefit from disqualifying one of the top two. I'm not sure why the ASUAF website posts incorrect results for that election, but perhaps Thom can tell us.

Walker tried to disqualify me because I purchased advertising in the Sun Star, and copies were laying around the Wood Center on election day. That's what Sun Stars do: they hang out in the Wood Center. My small ad was tucked away, so few even saw it. The election appeals board dismissed the electioneering charge because it was ridiculous to think such a minor thing could "unduly influence" voters. Tiny newspaper ads don't shout through a loudspeaker, and can't be seen from farther than 12 inches.

Does it seem to anyone else that the common thread between these recent sketchy elections is a single person, who files nonsensical complaints, and then appoints his own buddies to rule on them?

Now I can't speak with authority on last year's presidential race. I graduated two years ago, and live in Juneau, but I heard about it. And it sounds to me like voters elected Maitlen. Do you see why we have checks and balances in government?  No elections board should be appointed by a candidate.

Britt (Arnesen) Constantine

UAF Alumni

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