Witt e-mail addresses campaignsBrett BralleyNews EditorPublished: Sunday, March 1, 2009Updated: Monday, March 2, 2009Students, faculty and staff received an e-mail from President Robert Witt Friday that expressed his discontent with actions by unknown persons against a candidate during the SGA elections.The actions Witt referred to in the e-mail involved the keying of the cars of students working on one of the candidates’ campaigns as well as chalking that portrayed messages against one of the candidates, said Chris Bryant, UA spokesman.Witt said in the e-mail that the University finds such behavior unacceptable.“I fully expect all individuals who live, work, teach and study within this community to refrain from any behavior that threatens the respect that every member of our community deserves,” he said in the e-mail. “This campus will not be a place where students, faculty and staff feel threatened or disrespected for their personal beliefs. And we strongly condemn words or behaviors that are offensive or unacceptable to any members of our community.”SGA presidential candidate Kendra Key said a swastika had been drawn over a chalked square on a sidewalk that campaigned for her.Another chalked message said “First Obama, now Kendra can’t,” Key said. She said she was also told that some keys drawn on campus were turned into penises. Key said the bulk of the chalkings were found on the Quad.“As a student, I always hope that my peers will campaign and exist in an ethical manner on campus, being respectful to all individuals on campus pursuing any endeavor on campus,” Key said.SGA candidate Steven Oliver said he was aware of the chalking, but no one on his or Key’s campaign was responsible for it. He said anyone on his campaign found to be involved with the chalking would be removed immediately from his campaign.“Our campaign does not stand for any of that,” Oliver said. “We have run a fair campaign so far and we are committed to doing that.”Key also said two members of her campaign contacted her last Tuesday when they noticed their cars had been keyed. She said one of the cars was parked at the Ferguson Center parking lot.Caitlin Looney, a member of Key’s campaign, said her car was keyed outside her apartment at Preston Place last Monday evening. She said she noticed the scratches on her car last Tuesday morning.Key said she hopes the actions against the campaign members were not campaign-related.“If they are [campaign-related], I would hope that these individuals responsible will know that this is a university of integrity, and this should be a campaign of integrity as well,” Key said.Key said she is not making accusations toward anyone.“We are not claiming that my opponent or any of his staff are responsible for these actions,” Key said. “We don’t know who committed these offenses. We hope that they would cease and that campus would go forward in a progressive direction.”
Hmmm, I'm guessing the "machine" doesn't like her.
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