Students who lack trust in Associated Student Government candidates no longer have the option of voting “no confidence” after the Judicial Board declared the option unconstitutional during Reading Week of Winter Quarter.

The seven-student council ruled on the issue March 10 after Mitch Holzrichter, a member of ASG’s election commission, filed a petition to challenge the constitutionality of the option.

Presently, students will not be able to select “no confidence” in the April 12 ASG elections. But senators at tonight’s ASG meeting may decide to revise the procedures so that the option falls within constitution guidelines.

The Judicial Board’s formal decision stated that the option limited “the power of students.”

In the 2005 Election Guidelines approved by Senate, “no confidence” would appear as an option on ballots. If it received the most votes, the ASG Executive Board would appoint someone to the position.

Holzrichter, who is a fraternities senator, argued at the hearing that the current procedure undermines the right of students to determine their representatives.

“This is an issue of democracy,” said Holzrichter, a Weinberg senior and former Daily business manager.

Executive Vice President Howard Buffett, who was present at the Judicial Board hearing, said he was opposed to the original wording of the “no confidence” option because he felt it took power away from the students.

“It would be like the U.S. Senate choosing its own senate members,” said Buffett, a communication junior.

Buffett said that while he fully agrees with the unconstitutionality decision, he also believes students have a right to voice their opinion of no confidence.

According to the written decision, the Judicial Board offered more “democratic” options for the Senate to consider. One is to keep “no confidence” on the ballot, but if it won, the race would be declared invalid. In this case, a new campuswide election would occur in two weeks with new candidates.

The “no confidence” option, which was instituted two years ago, has received wide support from senators, said Matt Hall, speaker of the Senate and a Communication senior. Hall said at the most recent Senate meeting there were several motions to get “no confidence” off the ballot or change the wording of the option, but each motion was shot down overwhelmingly by other senators.

Reach Corrie Driebusch at [email protected].

TImeline for Elections

? Friday, April 1, 5 p.m., ASG Office ?

Candidates? petitions due

? Monday, April 4, ?

Non-verbal campaigning begins

? Tuesday, April 5, 7 p.m., Ohio State, Norris* ? Academic Vice President, Student Services Vice President candidate debates
? Monday, April 11, 5 p.m., Purdue A, Norris* ? President, Executive Vice

President candidate debates

? Tuesday, April 12, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. ?

General elections

? Thursday, April 14, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. ? Runoff elections (if needed)

* Due to the possibility of a large number of candidates, the dates and times of the debates should be considered tentative. Source: ASG?s HereAndNow Web site