With Student Association elections beginning today, the personal politicking is in full effect, focused squarely on Ascension Party President candidate Timothy Kelly. Last Friday, Kelly was accused by the Crew Team of not being a member and Kelly received an email dismissing him from the Student Association Assembly. Both items are serious and must be considered, but do not take away fully from Kelly's strength as a candidate.
Kelly's history in the Assembly has high points and low points. He joined at the beginning of this year and immediately became a part of the Rules Committee, something rare for first-time members. Speaker of the Assembly Adam Sherlip then created a diversity committee, which was opposed by Kelly. Despite differences, Kelly became chairman in October, as he felt he was the most qualified. Unfortunately, he ran the committee poorly, as they met rarely and never had good direction or goals. Kelly resigned from the committee in February in order to focus more on classes.
Kelly's inability to take classes and manage the duties of a fairly small, unimportant Assembly committee raises serious concerns about his ability to function as SA President while taking classes, and should be considered by voters more than any other aspect of this weekend's controversy.
Shortly after Kelly's decision to resign, he also began missing Assembly meetings. As per the Assembly rules, which state missing more than two meetings is grounds for dismissal, Kelly was removed Friday, although he missed his last meeting March 8.
It is impossible to tell if it is only normal timing or if there were political motivations in the fact that Kelly received the e-mail of his dismissal on Friday, almost three weeks from that date. Kelly has the opportunity to appeal, and most people who appeal are reinstated. Getting kicked off the assembly is a very common occurrence due to the strict attendance rules, as almost 100 members have lost their positions.
Everything Kelly produced during the endorsement and campaign process saying he was in the Assembly and gained legislative experience while being on the Rules Committee was true, and the experiences were still worthwhile.
Kelly also claimed to be on the Crew Team. While he is not on the team in any capacity, he did attend a spring training event and a few practices. It is a slight embellishment, but something in the natural course of politics. The association with the crew team was mentioned to The Spectrum staff as an afterthought in one of the last questions he was asked during the endorsement process and was never something upon which his campaign was based.
Kelly's response to both claims is political motivation. Adam Sherlip is on record supporting a different candidate, and Kelly claims this may have been the reason for the dismissal or its timing. With the Crew Team, Kelly points to his membership in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Alliance as a reason for not being supported, suggesting discrimination. However, that is a very serious charge that is impossible to verify. Also, the Sports Club council is supporting Anthony Burgio, so their refutation of Kelly's claims could be purely political - or, they may simply want to set the record straight.
As with all politicians, as well as students preparing a resume, some claims are juiced up and often to be taken with a grain of salt. Save a membership, today's Timothy Kelly is no different from the Timothy Kelly of last week. While it is important that the full record be known, it is strange that these revelations come about the day before the elections begin, and it is not grave enough to warrant change of endorsement.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
