Web update: USG upholds disqualification of Pang '12

The USG Senate, meeting in a private executive session late Tuesday night, rejected an appeal by Bill Pang ’12, who asked that the invalidation of his candidacy for Class of 2012 treasurer be overturned.

Though Pang won more votes than runner-up Austin Hollimon ’12, he exceeded campaign spending limits. Hollimon was declared treasurer last Friday and will remain treasurer now that the USG has made a final ruling on Pang’s status.

Pang garnered the support of three voting senate members to initiate an appeal. According to USG elections rules, a Senate meeting must be called within 48 hours of the candidate’s appeal to decide on the matter.

A USG member familiar with the situation who was not authorized to speak on the matter said it was decided at the meeting that Pang spent the maximum allowed amount, $30, on an ad in The Daily Princetonian, but also printed 100 posters supporting his candidacy, thereby exceeding the spending limit by $10. Copies of flyers are debited from a candidate’s spending allowance at a rate of 10 cents per page, according to USG election rules.

The rules stipulate that a candidate is assessed five penalty points for each dollar spent exceeding the spending limit, with increasingly severe penalties imposed as more points are accumulated. Pang reached the maximum 50-point threshold at which he was disqualified.

USG president Josh Weinstein ’09 said after the meeting that he hoped Pang would remain involved in student government despite “a minor setback.”

“This was a really hard decision for all of us,” Weinstein explained. “One of the things we really hope for is that [Pang] will stay interested.”

More to come...