A security concern may have been the reason for the dismissal of Campus Activities Board president-elect Lonnie Pollard.

According to Brian Hemphill, vice president of Student Affairs, certain positions held by student employees are deemed security-sensitive, requiring background checks. The CAB presidency is deemed a security-sensitive position.

“There are approximately 3,000 student positions within the university, of which approximately 1,700 are classified as security sensitive,” Hemphill said in an e-mail that was sent by Brandi Hephner LaBanc, vice president of Planning and Operations.

The university, Hemphill said, only performs background checks on candidates who win the election, not on every candidate running.

Neither Hemphill nor Pollard would clarify the reason behind the dismissal. Hemphill said he was not at liberty to discuss it and that only Pollard could talk about it. Pollard said he didn’t know the reason.

“I’m in the dark,” said Pollard, a student-at-large.

In a written statement to the Northern Star, Pollard said he was removed because of a “hiring decision,” even though Pollard was elected by the students. Pollard defeated opponent Amanda Williams in the Student Association/CAB spring elections March 25 and 26 by 72 votes.

Because the CAB presidency is also a paid position, it falls under the university’s guidelines for employment.

“These are two areas that are linked based on the critical role that paid student leaders play on a university campus,” Hemphill said in the e-mail.

Pollard, who was informed by Hemphill personally of his dismissal, said he will not dispute it if “these actions by the university are legitimate.” The vice president of the respective division has the final authority in hiring decisions. Because CAB falls under Student Affairs, Hemphill made the decision.

Special election

As a result of Pollard’s dismissal, CAB will hold a special presidential election May 6. A mandatory candidates’ meeting was held Monday night in the Campus Life Building.

Williams is the election commissioner for the special election and is unable to run for the presidency. Because it is not held like a regular executive election, it has no affiliation nor will be managed by the SA, a point emphasized by Williams. SA bylaws for elections will be in effect, though, Williams said.

The seven students who signed up as a candidate received an election packet, containing all of the information they would need for the election. One important document listed was the petition list. For the special election, the potential candidates must collect 200 signatures – instead of the usual 400 – by Wednesday.

In addition, interested students must sign an authorization and consent for release of information form with Human Resources. The form asks, among other things, the criminal history of the candidate.

Williams said this was a new feature of the election packet.

“They’re trying to prevent a similar situation,” Williams said, referencing the current situation with Pollard. She added that no such form was included in the spring 2008 election packet.

Williams did not know if this form will be continued in future elections.

Those who expressed interest were Emeka Chike-Obi, Aaron Funfsinn, Grant Greenberg, Marlon Haywood, Dan Leonard, Colleen Murphy and Mike Orescanin. Williams emphasized that these students are only interested in running and are not the actual candidates.