New development in our post about the race for American University student body president, which is full of promises to support students of color, victims of sexual assault and anyone who feels stressed out by college:
One of the two white candidates was briefly suspended from campaigning in response to multiple allegations that he campaigned in an “intimidating, hostile, or coercive fashion which is intentional or persistent,” The Eagle reports.
The crimes of Will Mascaro? Trying to convince his opponents to drop out in exchange for positions in his administration. He’ll face the Judicial Board at a “trial” tonight over the allegations, which could rule him ineligible for the race.
Mascaro had actually pledged to “lead from behind” on racial issues by appointing only nonwhite students to his cabinet to craft his diversity policy, but he led from the front against his opponents, (white) Matt Mullin and (black) Devontae Torriente:
According to Mullin, Mascaro expressed concerns that he and Mullin would “split the Greek vote,” which would secure the election for Torriente.
“Mr. Mascaro stated that [if] should I drop out, Mr. Mascaro would award me with any position within Student Government that I choose,” Mullin said in his official statement to the prosecutor. …
A series of text messages also took place between Shannon McDermott, Mascaro’s former campaign manager and a current candidate for comptroller, and Michael McCue, a member of Mullin’s campaign staff, in which McDermott expressed concern about Mullin running against Mascaro [for the same Greek-vote reason].
RELATED: American University candidates promise snowflakes 24-hour counseling, more ‘inclusion’
Mascaro got panicky when Torriente told him he was running for president:
Both Mascaro and Torriente confirmed that they met again during the first week of March. In a statement to [student body prosecutor Naomi] Zeigler, Torriente explained that he felt pressure from Mascaro to end his campaign.
“I was uncomfortable with him repeatedly asking me not to run, and I was offended when he continued to try to coerce me into not running against him by instead offering me positions under him,” Torriente said in his statement.
How does Mascaro remember it? Patronizingly:
He said he tried to be extremely sensitive as to not exert an intimidating tone towards Torriente.
“I painstakingly worried and feared that that conversation would seem threatening or discouraging to him,” Mascaro said. “Because he’s a friend of mine… I really didn’t want to make it seem like it would be threatening.”
Mascaro allegedly also tried to help his old campaign manager, the comptroller candidate, run unopposed by offering her opponent – surprise – a slot in his administration.
Prosecutor Zeigler is predicting the trial will result in “something like suspension or possible expulsion from the election” for Mascaro.
And college students wonder why so many grownups call them snowflakes.
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