The DASB Senate voted to renew the eligibility of Ben Pacho as a senate candidate in its June 5 meeting, reversing the DASB Election Committee’s May 29 decision to disqualify him from the 2013-2014 senate election.
Pacho, along with Revolution candidate Kevin Nguyen, was accused of subverting the election by engaging in libelous behavior during a classroom presentation. The election committee expanded the charge to include “attempting to use media or other such public entities to publish or spread false information about candidates,” a violation of the DASB Election Code.
Pacho is the opinions editor of La Voz. He recused himself from participating in stories related to the senate election.
“It was fair decision,” said Koosha Sevyani, vice president of Revolution coalition, after the senate meeting. “The senate already let a lot of more major stuff slide, so why would they disqualify such a qualified person?”
Tatyana Grinenko, a 2012-2013 senator who did not seek re-election to the senate, said the whole quarter was “crazy.”
“There have been accusations, gossip and misinformation circulating around,” she said. “Ben Pacho’s disqualification would have been a clear cut case, but in the light of everything prior, it wouldn’t be correct to disqualify him. I think he’d be a great senator. He just made a single mistake.”
Grinenko and United candidate Ryan Royster admitted to illegally taking stacks of La Voz Weekly on April 29. The senate voted not to remove them from their positions in its May 15 meeting.
Cassandra Clay, an independent candidate who was not elected, said most of the comments made during the senate meeting focused on Pacho’s personal qualities and diverted attention from violating election codes.
“The fact is … I don’t think people were looking into it completely,” she said.
Andrew Nazarenko, the United candidate who heard the class presentation and circulated the petition afterward, declined to comment.
Karin Novak, president of the United coalition, said she has mixed feelings about the decision.
“I’m glad the senate dealt with it and moved on,” she said.
Pablo Zamorano, president of the senate and chairman of the election committee, said, “I am glad the senate was more decisive than the (election) committee.” Only half of the committee members voted in the May 29 disqualification.
In other news, the senate approved a DASB contract for a paid student position in the bike program. The position includes clerical work and answering inquiries. The Office of College Life will consider the salary and the precise job requirements.
