ASUO President Ben Eckstein will stay in office for the remainder of his term, Constitution Court announced Friday afternoon.
Former ASUO president Sam Dotters-Katz filed a grievance against Eckstein and Vice President Katie Taylor asking for their removal. The grievance referred to allegations made at the beginning of the term that said former Oregon Student Public Research Interest Group Board Chair Charles Denson donated money to Eckstein and Taylor’s campaign in 2011.
The grievance stated that Denson gave two checks to the Ben and Katie campaign manager Sophie Luthin, and she wrote a check to Eckstein. Denson’s name wasn’t on the final budget, and because of this Dotters-Katz stated the campaign was attempting to mislead the Elections Board.
Dotters-Katz said this alleged violation constitutes an egregious elections violation and can result in removal from office.
The decision states that while there is evidence that shows the transaction took place, there is no evidence that Luthin and Denson intended to change the outcome of the election. Therefore, they didn’t think it was necessary to remove Eckstein and Taylor.
“Katie and I have always focused on and prioritized doing our job and serving students,” Eckstein said. “We have managed to do this even while under political attack from a former president with a vendetta and will continue to do so until the day we are out of office.”