The Student Government Association’s Monroe
Park Campus justices ruled in favor of presidential
candidate Jibran Muhammad Wednesday, rejecting
a grievance filed against him by executive-director
candidate Joshua Ronk that alleged Muhammad’s
supporters intimidated voters.
The 4-0 decision, posted by the SGA on its Web site
Saturday, stated Ronk was told Muhammad supporters
had been in the Shafer Court Dining Center on March
27 “harassing and/or intimidating” students into voting
for Muhammad.
The SGA announced March 28 preliminary election
results were under review after some complained votes
had not been counted. So far, Muhammad is listed as
having received 1996 votes against opponent Steven
Latimer’s 640. Ronk is a member of Latimer’s ticket.
Ronk also had claimed in his grievance Muhammad
supporters were campaigning in dorms illegally.
Muhammad, who is an associate justice, recused
himself from his role and acted as the defendant in
the proceedings Wednesdsay.
Citing a case brought forward by Shivani
Shodhan against Tyler Bass in 2006 in
which Bass was accused of posting campaign
material illegally, the group ruled Muhammad
could not be held responsible for the actions of
students not directly tied to his campaign.
“Neither Mr. Ronk nor any eyewitness can place any
candidate on the Muhammad-Sowder-Taghavi ticket at
Shafer at the time the incident allegedly took place,”
the opinion stated. “It is therefore deemed since the
candidates themselves were not directly involved in
the process, that they cannot be held accountable for
the actions of other students.”
No sanctions will be imposed on the Muhammad
campaign, and the matter has been declared
resolved.
Ronk said he might appeal the ruling.
“It clearly says in the bylaws that you are responsible
for yourself as well as those who support you,” Ronk
said. “If the SGA’s going to make rules, they should
follow them . I know we want to bring up voter
turnout, but this is not the way to do it.”
Muhammad declined to comment for this story.
The ruling can be viewed at www.vcusga.com.