Elections contested by candidates

With the December election results being contested for alleged fraud, Ceci Brinker, director of Student Life, will begin the process of looking into the allegations.

Brinker needs to meet with Student Senate Speaker Jeff Lange, Ashlei Birch, student executive director of elections, and a few others to determine what needs to happen.

The contesting of the election could not be reviewed before break due to finals, and everyone has now just returned, she said.

The election policies will be reviewed before the Student Government spring elections, Brinker said.

On Dec. 7, Student Senate candidate Chris Kromphardt told the Daily Eastern News that candidate Tori Frazier and he would be filing an official grievance with Birch.

Kromphardt alleged that polling stations were left abandoned and that current Student Senate members and other candidates were working the polls unsupervised.

Brinker expects a decision on what course of action to take early next week.

Anderson works on safety funding

Student Body President Sean Anderson has been working on getting funds for campus safety projects for Illinois public universities.

Illinois does not designate any funds specifically for campus safety.

Anderson will be meeting with local state representative Chapin Rose (R-Charleston) early next week.

He previously had a meeting with local state senator Dale Righter (R-Mattoon).

Anderson has contacted the governor’s office on campus safety, but was referred to the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

Anderson received an e-mail from Don Sevener, director of external relations for IBHE, which said that the board has not yet acted on the budget and to approach members of the General Assembly.

Working to get more members of the Illinois General Assembly involved will help the process securing funds for Illinois public universities, Anderson said.

There seems to be no problem supporting campus safety. The problem lies in getting funding specifically campus safety, he said.

Students hear of rate increase

Mark Hudson, director of housing and dining, will be at today’s Student Senate meeting.

He will be answering questions and concerns about the raise in room and board costs next year.

The Bond Revenue Committee has proposed a 6.95 percent increase in the rates.

The committee is comprised of six students who go over the housing and dining budget and make recommendations on where increases are needed.

Student Senate meets every Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Arcola-Tuscola Room in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

The meeting is open to all students and faculty.