FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Who: FSU Progress Coalition
When: Monday, February 13, 7:30 PM
Where: FSU Law School Lobby First Floor, “Folder City”, 425 West Jefferson Street
What: Florida State University Student Government Association Elections Commissions Hearing
On Monday, February 13th, 2012 at 7:30 PM, the Florida State University Student Government Association Elections Commission will be convening to determine the outcome of very serious election
violations, which could determine the status of the Spring 2012 FSU SGA elections. Progress Coalition,
a FSU student political party founded with a history of advocating for student rights against education
cuts by the Florida Legislature and Gov. Rick Scott and advocating for the protection of student rights at
FSU, will be presenting it’s case against the incumbent Ignite Party, which according to election code, are facing potential disqualification due to missing expense reports.
The FSU SGA election code dictates that, for all parties involved, “final expense statements
shall be submitted to the Supervisor of Elections no later than 4:00 pm on the day following election”.
The Final Expense Statement as defined by section 714.3 B, is to include a full list of items, including
an itemized list of expenses, a campaign contribution statement (names and addresses of persons who
donated more than twenty-five dollars), and a bank statement. Statues state that any violation of this
requirement will result in automatic disqualification of candidates. It is very clearly stated that “no other penalty other than immediate disqualification may be assessed.” It was witnessed and reported that
the Ignite party did not file their expense statement as defined by FSU statute. They lacked a campaign
contribution statement, a bank statement, and a full itemized list of expenses and receipts. In addition,
there is evidence that Ignite may have used FSU resources in the course of the election. Not only was
this found to be the case, but when Ignite’s election files from the past three elections cycles were
examined, it was found that the Ignite party had failed to file a Final Expense Statement as defined by
714.3 B in all previous elections, and had large unexplained contributions in each.
The hearing will be monumental in determining the future of the Student Government Association at Florida State University and as well, the future of student representation at FSU when it comes combating education cuts, tuition hikes, Koch Bros influence at FSU and other progressive issues.
The hearing will start at 7:30 PM with a press conference by FSU Progress Coalition following
