CALTV EXCLUSIVE: Source leaks whistleblower report cited in Executive Order Posted by caltvblogs on April 14, 2012 · Leave a Comment

by Ashley Morgan, CalTV News Reporter

EXCLUSIVE: A source has leaked the transcription of a Campus Whistleblower Report filed last Sunday, which took issue with the V.O.I.C.E. referendum on the 2012 ASUC election ballot.

The caller claims V.O.I.C.E. is, “ in possible violation of Policies Applying to Campus Activities, Organizations, and Students, sections 67.10 — the transfer of compulsory student fees to non-university entity; section 82 — referendum requirement for establishing or increasing or renewing compulsory campus – student fees; and section 87.00 — the transfer of compulsory student fees to non-university entity.”

The source, claiming to be a member of The Daily Californian staff, said in an exclusive statement to CalTV:

“Although I believe The Daily Californian has always and will be an important news source on campus, ultimately I do not believe the fee initiative was constitutional. There are other means an independent organization like The Daily Californian can take in order to fund their publication. Without the Campus Whistleblower Program, this issue of constitutionality would not have been brought to the attention of the Judicial Council and ASUC leadership in time. The result of the election would have overshadowed the doubt surrounding this issue, whether the fee referendum passed or not. This specific issue is not related to my personal sentiment towards the bill, but rather the legality.”

ASUC President Vishalli Loomba cited this report as a reason for concern in her Executive Order enacted early Wednesday, which deemed the V.O.I.C.E. initiative “void”.

According to President Loomba, the Dean of Students Jonathan Poullard brought this and several other “grievances” concerning the initiative to her attention in an email to both her and Graduate Assembly President Bahar Navab.

The referendum sought to add a $2 fee to student tuition that would help support The Daily Californian’s operation, but is currently invalid as the ASUC Senate upheld Loomba’s order in a vote Wednesday night.

V.O.I.C.E. referendum Campaign Manager Lynn Yu has since filed charges with the ASUC Judicial Council in effort to overturn President Loomba’s order.

*This article has been changed from its original version. “With the ASUC Judicial Council,” was added to the last paragraph on Friday April 13th.