California State University, Bakersfield announced the new Associated Student Inc. Board of Directors for the 2024-25 academic year on March 22. Three CSUB students ran for ASI President, with Erin Pruitt, current ASI director of Students with Disabilities, receiving 39.8% of the vote, and Minaya Valentine, current director of Special Populations, receiving 37.9%. While both candidates gained the majority of votes, neither received more than 50% of campus votes, resulting in a runoff election.
ASI’s runoff elections were set for April 3, giving both candidates two weeks to do additional campaigning. Pruitt and Valentine campaigned for the elections by handing out flyers, posting flyers and creating social media campaign videos. But on March 29, Valentine received an email from a professor that most of her posters were removed in Dorthy Donahoe Hall.
Valentine printed out over 200 posters for campaign materials, which were approved by ASI Elections Coordinator, Jamie Pacheco. Yet, throughout the re-election campaign process, Valentine received information from friends and supporters that her posters were torn down in DDH, Science Building III and the bulletin boards around campus. There was no evidence of Valentine violating guidelines for campaign materials for election campaigning.
As a result of Valentine’s posters being removed, she filed a formal complaint with the University Police Department and filled out a formal elections grievance form, which students can fill out if they feel someone has violated the elections code.
The University Police Department was brought into the investigation after Valentine and some of her friends informed UPD about the removal of her campaign posters. UPD informed Valentine that they could not identify individuals in DDH removing posters.
After gathering evidence, Valentine filed a formal complaint per ASI election codes 4.9: Sanctions to report a violation of Section E, removing and defacing candidates’ information. During the meeting with Pacheco, Mike Kwon, ASI executive director, and Ilaria Pesco, assistant vice president for student affairs & student success, Valentine was informed that because the alleged person who removed her posters ran for elections in the first round, and is not an active candidate, no actions can be taken to postpone the election results. Pacheco directed Valentine to report the incident to the Title IX department at CSUB.
“They [Pacheco] also said that I have to report it for Title IX because it was a hate crime that happened,” Valentine said.
Valentine shared that she made it clear on her posters that she would be the first ASI black president if she won. She felt that it was clear she was being targeted based on the pictures she received from friends that her posters were torn down, or in half, at bulletin boards on campus.
While Valentine was going through the ASI election’s grievance process, she hoped that the runoff election would be delayed and further investigated by ASI, the Dean of Students and Title IX because as she wanted to be given a fair campaign process.
In an email to The Runner, Pacheco wrote, “Through the process of investigation Minaya’s complaint other potential violations arouse. As a result, the complaint was forwarded to the Title IX/DHR department and Dean of Students office for review.”
The CSUB Title IX department is taking lead on the investigation, and are not able to disclose complaints or acknowledge active investigations due to sensitivity and confidentiality of individuals involved. According to Jorge Villatoro, Assistant director for Equity, Inclusion, and Compliance, the Title IX department does not deal with ASI candidacy and referred further information to ASI.
Pacheco did not provide reason why the election results were not put on hold during the Title IX investigation.
Kwon and Daisy Alamillo, ASI president, did not respond to comment after several emails or requests for an in-person or a phone call interview with The Runner.
“I feel like the ASI elections runoff was unfair,” said Deajah King, ASI Director of Clubs and Organizations. “I have witnessed unethical behavior amongst everyone during the runoff elections.”
King said she supported and motivated Valentine during the elections, and was hurt to see what she experienced.
Valentine had additional support from Emily Poole Callahan, assistant vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students for student integrity and well-being, Natasha Harris, Excel Scholars director of special programs & student retention initiatives, Claudia Catota, chief diversity officer and special assistant to the president, Tamar Anthony, co–chair of the Black Faculty and Staff Association, and members of the Black Women on Campus student organization.
“I think that the election should have been paused during the time that Minaya complained that her flyers were ripped down. An investigation of her allegations should have been taken seriously and a message should have addressed all candidates about the fair and way to campaign, prompting a re-election,” Anthony wrote in an email to The Runner.
Anthony said she also believes that although a final winner was selected, there should have been a re-election and the individuals involved should be held accountable for their actions in the situation.
Valentine said she felt targeted, dismissed, and sabotaged during her process of running for ASI presidency. She also shared that she feels disappointed and hopes to shed light on the ASI organization so that students can understand what the student government is really like.
Valentine said she hopes for a re-election where she can campaign on fair grounds. According to Valentine, she has started working with the BFSA to see what her options are moving forward.
Friday, April 5, students received an email with the new ASI board members resulting in Erin Pruitt being the next ASI president for the 2024-25 academic year.
This is an ongoing investigation. For further updates, please visit therunneronline.com.
