(Mitchell Richtmyre / Fourth Estate)
Undergraduate Student Body President Isaiah Grays removed from office on Dec. 11, barring further appeal
BY EMMA G. SCHAIBLE, NEWS EDITOR
Undergraduate Student Body President Isaiah Grays’ appeal has been denied by the Election and Disputes Commission, effectively removing him from office on Thursday, Dec. 11.
The EDC met on Dec. 5 to discuss the appeal of Grays v. Collins by President Isaiah Grays. The verdict of this meeting was announced on Dec. 8 by Clerk Andrew Boese. The appeal discussion was written by Commissioner Colton Seefeldt for the Disputes Board.
Grays’ impeachment was voted on by the Undergraduate Representative Body on Oct. 30, then heard by the EDC on Nov. 10. He was indicted on four of five charges, including corruption, unprofessional and unethical conduct, misconduct or severe violation of governing documents and neglect of duties.
Grays appealed on six grounds, citing lack of access to evidence, findings that do not correspond to the charges, failure to apply evidentiary standard, misapplication of the code and incorrect factual findings, failure to provide a decision within 24 hours, and improper handling of the impeachment process.
The board found no indications of substantial procedural irregularity on any of the appealed grounds.
Throughout the appeal, Seefeldt cites that the EDC process is merely a function of a registered student organization at Mason and not a legal proceeding. Additionally, they assured that the procedure was in compliance with the Student Body Code and Constitution.
According to Seefeldt, the board’s decision was based on a preponderance of evidence and did not require proof beyond a reasonable doubt. This means that the evidence must only be persuasive enough to the board that they can faithfully execute the charges.
The board also elaborated on their process of making a decision and delivering it. The EDC stated that while they aim to send out a decision within 24 hours, there is no requirement to do so, citing that decisions of that size “take time.”
Grays will be removed from office three days after the EDC’s decision at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11 unless he appeals to the Faculty Review Board before that time.
The Faculty Review Board is the final board of appeals and consists of the advisor of the URB, the director of the Office of Student Involvement and a faculty member from either the Office of Student Involvement or the Office of University Life according to the Code of Student Governance.
