Chairmanship Election Ballot

[Christopher Longman]

Dear all,

It is with great frustration and disappointment that I send you this email this evening.  Janie has contacted me and advised me she would like to be removed from the ballot for tomorrows election and thus removed from consideration for the Chairmanship of the IAS.

I have made my thoughts on this issue very clear and my opinion on the situation remains the same.  I think that the charge of election rules violation for "campaigning" against Janie and the call for her removal from the ballot is not only irresponsible but also frivolous.  The expectation by this EBoard or any other group that a candidate shall be held fully responsible for the unprovoked and unencouraged actions of a 3rd party, who is in no way affiliated with the IAS, over what I now understand is a private/confidential medium absolutely disgusts me. As I mentioned to Jeff this afternoon, I hold the belief that with Janie's removal from the ballot this evening, the IAS membership has been done a disservice by the very people who are elected to look out for their interests.  As Melissa pointed out yesterday, the "secret" nature of the proceedings and maundering of the Constitution occurred is also very disconcerting.

The Chairmanship of arguably one of the strongest and largest student organizations at GWU shall now be filled via an unopposed race.  While I congratulate Gordon, a friend of mine who has the ability to lead the IAS next academic year, it truly saddens me that the IAS membership is now unable to hear the competing thoughts and ideas of a candidate who has devoted herself to the IAS since October of her Freshman year as a result of proceedings brought upon her due to the actions of an unaffiliated and unprovoked third party.

As per my directions last evening, the proceedings that have occurred over the past 48 hours are to remain sealed and are not to be discussed by any EBoard member, either elected or appointed.     

Janie has sent me an email and requested that it be sent to the Eboard.  Please see it below:

_________

Dear The 2012-2013 IAS Executive Board,

It is with a heavy heart and disappointment that I have decided to withdraw from this election.  Despite heavy criticism from the rest of the GW community about the IAS's dramatics and unnecessary politicking, I have always defended the organization and worked towards its growth and progression.  I truly believed that the people of the International Affairs Society and its Executive Board worked on behalf of what was logical, right, and true.  Unfortunately, it has been shown to me that this is not the case.  A group that can now constitutionally usurp the power of numerous positions on the Executive Board and agree that a candidate must control third parties on every social medium in his or her power is both illogical and unjust.  Despite your questions which showed your arguments clearly during my appeal, an argument of discredit when a third party campaigns on a private social medium is exactly the same as what normally occurs during this election by word of mouth and facebook message and is currently occurring for every single other candidate, showing your clear discrimination of one form of a social medium versus another.  While I do not condone this behavior and have not participated in it myself in the least, I must say that the belief that a candidate can play God and control others' actions is ridiculous.  You have not only lost a candidate who would have worked tirelessly for this organization and ensured its success if given the opportunity but also a loyal and devoted member and friend who would have fought for the International Affairs Society to the bitter end.  I am not withdrawing from this election because I fear disqualification.  I have withdrawn from this election because of my lack of faith in this organization and its integrity.  As I said in my comments at the end of the appeal, it is unfortunate and I'd add rather embarrassing that this is what your proceedings have come to.  

I would like to thank those on the Executive Board that lived up to the reputation set by their predecessors and hopefully those who will come after they have left.  I appreciate your sound logic and dedication to this organization's ideals and your efforts to maintain its integrity to the best of your ability.  Your commitment to what is just does not go unnoticed, and I cannot express my appreciation and gratitude enough.

Last, I would greatly appreciate it if your proceedings remained closed as they are intended to be.  It would be extremely counterintuitive and ironic if the Executive Board were to violate its own election rules by publicizing its proceedings.

Regards,

Janie

____________

Roddy/Gordon:  Due to this news, please cancel any room holdings we have for this evening and/or "sit the room" for 5 minutes so we do not get the miss.

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Christopher Longman

George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs '13

Chairman, The International Affairs Society | http://www.gwias.com/

Legislative Affairs Assistant, Locke Lord Strategies | http://www.lockelord.com/strategies/

(516) 946-3607

CLon...@gwmail.gwu.edu

 

[Melissa Miller]

Janie and Chris: #Preach

xoxo

Mel

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Melissa Miller

Director for the Program for International Education - International Affairs Society

The George Washington University

The Elliott School of International Affairs Class of 2015

239-896-5717 I meli...@gwmail.gwu.edu