Violations

Violations to SGA elections policy will be posted here as they are investigated by the Elections Board and made public pursuant to Section 01-0107 Section B.3c of the KSU SGA Elections Code.

To report a suspected violation, please file a complaint form. You may need to sign in to your K-State OrgCentral account for the link to work properly. If you would like to appeal the decision of the Elections Board, please contact the Student Tribunal Chancellor.

2025 Elections Violations:

Complaint 25-01:

Suspected Violator(s):	Brady Kappelmann and Zoey Pudenz
Suspected Violation:	Chalking within 17.5 feet of the north entrance to Anderson Hall
Elections Code:	KSU SGA Statutes 01-0106 B1 Violating the Kansas State University Policy and Procedures Manual (PPM). PPM Chapter 8570.070 C 2. prohibiting chalking within 30 feet of an entrance to the building.
Complaint Filed By:	Elections Commissioner Brandon Kirmer
Hearing:	Friday, February 28, 2025 at 5:15pm Student Programs and Involvement Conference Room (K-State Student Union)
Determination:	In Violation
Ruling:	No Penalty (Warning Given) The confirmed conduct was the candidate's first offense, the candidates were swift to correct, and the confirmed conduct provided minimal advantage to the violators' campaign.

Complaint 25-02:

Suspected Violator(s):	Brady Kappelmann and Zoey Pudenz
Suspected Violation:	Utilizing the Student Programs and Involvement office printer to print campaign flyers and leaving said flyers unattended
Elections Code:	KSU SGA Statutes 01-0106 B2 a. Improperly distributing material, leaving campaign materials unattended KSU SGA Statutes 01-0106 B3 Refusing to hide campaign material in Student Governing Association offices or at official Student Governing Association events.
Complaint Filed by:	Amy Lee
Hearing:	Monday, March 3, 2025 at 8:15am Student Programs and Involvement Conference Room (K-State Student Union)
Determination:	In Violation
Ruling:	Penalty Given (2 points) Both KSU SGA Statutes were found to be in violation, and the confirmed conduct justified a penalty. Since both violations fell under the Class I Campaign Restrictions, the Elections Board issued a two-point penalty.

Complaint 25-03:

Suspected Violator(s):	Brady Kappelmann and Zoey Pudenz
Suspected Violation:	Chalking within 20 feet of a north entrance to Anderson Hall
Elections Code:	KSU SGA Statutes 01-0106 B1 Violating the Kansas State University Policy and Procedures Manual (PPM). PPM Chapter 8570.070 C 2. prohibiting chalking within 30 feet of an entrance to the building.
Complaint Filed by:	Phillip Shirkey
Hearing:	N/A
Determination:	Declined to Review
Ruling:	Although the chalking in question differs from that reviewed in Complaint 25-01, it is considered part of the same overall system in that location. The Election Board saw no need to review it again.

Complaint 25-04:

Suspected Violator(s):	Andy Cooper
Suspected Violation:	Chalking on a concrete bench/ramp outside of Wefald Hall and within the 30 foot range from a building entrance
Elections Code:	KSU SGA Statutes 01-0106 B1 Violating the Kansas State University Policy and Procedures Manual (PPM). PPM Chapter 8570.070 C 1. Only on the flat paved/concrete surfaces of campus sidewalks. Sidewalk publicity must not be placed on curbs or the back of steps, on brick surfaces, on buildings, benches, planters, trash containers, pillars, or anything other than the above mentioned flat paved/concrete surfaces and C.2 At least thirty (30) feet from the entrance of a building
Complaint Filed by:	Vivian Griffith
Hearing:	Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at 5:40pm Student Programs and Involvement Conference Room (K-State Student Union)
Determination:	In Violation (1 Point)
Ruling:	Due to the fact that the chalking in question was not on a sidewalk, as described in the Kansas State University Policy and Procedures Manual (PPM), the Elections Board issued a one-point penalty.

Complaint 25-05:

Suspected Violator(s):	Brady Kappelmann and Zoey Pudenz
Suspected Violation:	An instructor recommended to their marketing class to vote, specifically for the Kappelmann-Pudenz campaign saying that the Student Body President candidate would be a good Student Body President. The instructor also has a campaign sticker on her water bottle that she promotes in class.
Elections Code:	KSU SGA Statutes 01-0106 B4. Seeking the endorsement of Kansas State University, any of its Colleges, faculty, or staff, excluding student employees who do not use their position for campaign purposes. KSU SGA Statutes 01-0106 B5. Disturbing or interrupting class for campaign purposes.
Complaint Filed by:	Anna Coke
Hearing:	Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at 5:15pm Student Programs and Involvement Conference Room (K-State Student Union)
Determination:	Not in Violation
Ruling:	The instructor mentioned in the complaint acted on her own and got the sticker from a campaign worker after asking for it. The Kappelmann/Pudenz campaign never asked the instructor to promote their campaign.

Complaint 25-06:

Suspected Violator(s):	Gavin Strunk
Suspected Violation:	An instructor recommended to vote for Gavin Strunk for Senate to their marketing class.
Elections Code:	KSU SGA Statutes 01-0106 B4. Seeking the endorsement of Kansas State University, any of its Colleges, faculty, or staff, excluding student employees who do not use their position for campaign purposes. KSU SGA Statutes 01-0106 B5. Disturbing or interrupting class for campaign purposes.
Complaint Filed by:	Anna Coke
Hearing:	Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at 5:50pm Student Programs and Involvement Conference Room (K-State Student Union)
Determination:	Not in Violation
Ruling:	The instructor mentioned in the complaint acted on her own and had no contact with the Strunk for Senate campaign. The Strunk for Senate campaign never asked the instructor to promote their campaign.

Complaint 25-07:

Suspected Violator(s):	Brady Kappelmann and Zoey Pudenz
Suspected Violation:	A member of the suspected violators' campaign staff posted a photo with 23 non-candidate people in it with the label "Internal Team."
Elections Code:	KSU SGA Statutes 01-0102 A4: Campaign Staff. The term “campaign staff” shall mean any individuals who are authorized by candidates to perform and oversee campaign actions. a. Up to 15 campaign staff may be registered with the Elections Commissioner. KSU SGA Statutes 01-0106 D5 Obstructing or misleading the Elections Board
Complaint Filed by:	Brian Blood
Hearing:	Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at 5:30pm Student Programs and Involvement Conference Room (K-State Student Union)
Determination:	Not in Violation
Ruling:	The Kappelmann/Pudenz campaign provided a breakdown for who was in the picture in question. 13 people in the picture were listed as "Campaign Staff" and the names matched the submitted Intent to File form. 10 people in the picture were listed as "Campaign Workers."

Complaint 25-08:

Suspected Violator(s):	Brady Kappelmann and Zoey Pudenz
Suspected Violation:	The Kappelmann/Pudenz campaign spent $758.63 before student contributions began. The limit is $300.00, with early spending in lieu of contributions prohibited.
Elections Code:	KSU SGA Statutes 01-0106 D6 Exceeding the contribution limits established in 01-0105 KSU SGA Statutes 01-0106 D7 Spending advance funds in anticipation of contributions
Complaint Filed by:	Phillip Shirkey
Hearing:	N/A
Determination:	Declined to Review
Ruling:	The Kappelmann/Pudenz campaign provided receipts demonstrating that they paid for the transactions in question after student contributions began. With that being said, they actually spent $155.58 before student contributions began, which remains well within the $300 personal contribution limit.

Complaint 25-09:

Suspected Violator(s):	Brady Kappelmann and Zoey Pudenz
Suspected Violation:	The Kappelmann/Pudenz campaign did not list the flyers that were printed using the Student Programs and Involvement office printer on their expense report.
Elections Code:	KSU SGA Statutes 01-0106 D8 Deliberately misrepresenting expenses or contributions.
Complaint Filed by:	Phillip Shirkey
Hearing:	N/A
Determination:	Declined to Review
Ruling:	This ties directly into Complaint 25-02 which was already resolved and a penalty was given out. KSU SGA Statutes 01-0107 D4 specifically states: “No student shall be levied a fine for any offense, except as restitution for damaged or destroyed property.” The Student Programs and Involvement Director stated in our investigation that she is not looking for any sort of restitution, repayment, or fine, which means there is no need for it to be placed on the Kappelmann/Pudenz expense report.