The group of students trying to remove ASUO President Jay Breslow from office lost one of its main organizers Wednesday, and other members said the future of the recall drive is uncertain.
Junior sociology major Chris Fosnight sent a letter to Breslow officially withdrawing his petition for recall for “personal reasons.” But Fosnight said he won’t discuss the circumstances other than to say they were “priorities outside of the recall.”
But freshman business major Jarrett White, who started the recall with Fosnight on Nov. 13, said he will continue the process.
Petitioners have until Dec. 13 to collect about 1,700 signatures to force a campus election that would determine whether Breslow is removed from office.
Fosnight and White accused Breslow of political bias after an Oct. 27 voter rally that featured only Democratic speakers. They also said Breslow neglected his presidential duties because he left more than 10 open positions in student government for more than 30 days, which violated the ASUO Constitution.
Senior English major Scott Austin said he and the other petitioners have collected about 300 signatures, but they haven’t made a strong push to get names yet.
“We’re going to get more active during Dead Week,” he said.
But White, who hadn’t spoken to Fosnight since Fosnight withdrew, said his previous confidence has slipped in the past weeks, and he is less certain petitioners can get the needed signatures before the Dec. 13 deadline.
“It’s going to be pretty tough,” White said. “We’re running out of time here.”
White said he lost some of his momentum when ASUO Vice President Holly Magner said she would appoint Breslow into his old office if the recall was successful.
According to the ASUO Constitution, Magner would acquire Breslow’s power but not his office. She could appoint Breslow for the open president position and, if the Student Senate approved, Breslow would return to office.
“That took some of our steam away,” White said.