Our disclaimer regarding Onward State’s coverage of the 2016 UPUA elections.

For those of you following along at home, the 2016 UPUA election is rather eventful. Well, “eventful” is an understatement, seeing as UPUA deemed it necessary to outsource hearings about elections commission violations.

The Daily Collegian updated its story outlining the tumultuous UPUA elections to include a statement from current UPUA Speaker Emily Miller wherein the paper first reported the University Conduct Board agreed to deal with issues brought up regarding commissioners.

“I feel it is best that the assembly stay out of the matter altogether and that a completely impartial, third party take care of any complaint filed against a commissioner,” Miller further explained in an email. “This ensures fairness for all parties involved.”

In last Wednesday’s UPUA meeting, Schreyer Rep Zac Cohen attempted to amend the elections code to allow the general assembly to vote on violations committed by an elections commissioner. After an active discussion among the assembly, Miller decided it would be best to create a special committee that would deal with such violations if they were to occur and planned originally to present legislation at tonight’s meeting that would amend the elections code as such.

However, after seeing just how astringent this year’s race has become, Miller decided a special committee would not be removed enough and figured it best to take such a decision outside of UPUA.

“I would have had full faith in a special committee and their ability to fairly adjudicate a dispute about a commissioner, but given how acrimonious this election season has been, I feel that the University Conduct Board (UCB) hearing any commissioner’s case will ensure that no accusations can be made that the assembly is biased towards any party involved,” Miller said.

Miller cited the UCB’s experience and training dealing with the hearing process, and while the board is not only made up of students, only undergraduates would hear and vote on any election commissioner’s case. The UCB typically deals with students who are facing suspension or expulsion from Penn State.

Megan Fleming told the Collegian that her and Divy Agnihotri’s campaign submitted a violation against the commission, which, if substantiated, the UCB is now in charge of hearing and voting on.