Bribery update awaited

After nearly a month of almost no progress, the Election and Credentials committee will definitely make a ruling before the summer on charges of bribery in last month's Student Association election, according to committee chair Joe Varghese.

Varghese said the case has stalled mostly because of scheduling conflicts. Before he makes a decision, Varghese is still trying to meet with a lawyer to discuss the case and go over the lengthy election rules and guidelines.

"I'm just trying to be as thorough as possible," he said. "I don't want to leave anything out."

Members of the Reform Our Campus party, meanwhile, said they are frustrated and annoyed with the delay.

"I'm certainly dissatisfied with the lack of progress," said Reform Our Campus member Francisco Baiocchi. "I expected more from the Election and Credentials committee."

All of the charges revolve around a taped conversation in which Elevation '05 candidate Mazin Kased offered Baiocchi a job with SA next year if he were to drop from the election and turn on his fellow party members.

Since then, Elevation '05 has filed a counter-charge of bribery against Baiocchi along with a settlement offer, which was rejected, that all the charges be dropped if Kased issues a public apology and performs community service hours.

The settlement offer from Reform Our Campus - that Kased either resign or face the Student-wide Judiciary alone - expires Friday.

In Baiocchi's opinion, if a decision isn't made soon, no one will see the proper justice the case deserves.

"The process needs to happen sooner than later because if you wait until the semester is over, you seriously run the risk of letting this s lide," he said.

Fellow party member Elizabeth Salzman said she doesn't know if the wait will affect the outcome, but she believes Varghese is trying to push a decision to next semester.

"He should just rule and let it take its course to the Student-wide Judiciary," Salzman said.

Varghese said he is doing everything he can do move the case along, and as a graduating senior, the last thing he wants is for the situation to carry over into the fall.

"It's not like I'm trying to put it off," Varghese said.

Reform Our Campus member Matt Pelkey said the delay is even more frustrating because no matter what Varghese rules, either side will appeal to the Student-wide Judiciary, which will also take time.

"It certainly does look bad, especially in the light of everything else that's happened," Pelkey said.

One positive note, said Pelkey, who is president of the College Republicans, is that his club got its budget back. When the club was stripped of its entire budget last week, some said the move was related to the charges. SA officials said the allocation was a mistake.

While the case stands still, Kased said there is nothing he can do but be patient.

"I still feel I did nothing wrong, but we'll just have to wait and see how it goes," Kased said.

"If they find a problem this semester, or next semester, that's not a problem for me. As a student, I will follow (the decision) regardless," he added.

Baiocchi said he questions the legitimacy of that decision, since Varghese is paid by SA and was appointed by SA President Anthony Burgio, who is also involved in the charges.

Pelkey said he doesn't want to make assumptions about Varghese, but "he's trying to be convenient to everyone, and by doing that he's being convenient to no one."

Pelkey also stressed the situation, especially at this point, has nothing to do with his party's loss in the election. And although many students have forgotten the issue, or believe it isn't a big deal because it's just SA, Pelkey said bribery at UB should be dealt with like bribery anywhere else.

"It's not acceptable behavior at any level of government," he said.