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| Rigged Election? Dispute at Texas A&M Has Even Rick Perry Chiming In | Rigged Election? Dispute at Texas A&M Has Even Rick Perry Chiming In |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| COLLEGE STATION, Tex. — “An Aggie does not lie, cheat or steal, or tolerate those who do.” | COLLEGE STATION, Tex. — “An Aggie does not lie, cheat or steal, or tolerate those who do.” |
| For each of Texas A&M’s 64,000 students, otherwise known as Aggies, those words are intended as a creed. The Aggie Code of Honor is drilled into freshmen at a required orientation session. It appears at the end of all written exams, followed by a space for students to sign their assent. A marble monument to the code graces the campus here. | For each of Texas A&M’s 64,000 students, otherwise known as Aggies, those words are intended as a creed. The Aggie Code of Honor is drilled into freshmen at a required orientation session. It appears at the end of all written exams, followed by a space for students to sign their assent. A marble monument to the code graces the campus here. |
| Violating the code is serious business. But even by the standards of a university that takes itself and its place in Texas lore seriously, the current campus uproar over the code, which began with a dispute over who won an election for student body president, has heads spinning. | Violating the code is serious business. But even by the standards of a university that takes itself and its place in Texas lore seriously, the current campus uproar over the code, which began with a dispute over who won an election for student body president, has heads spinning. |
| Rick Perry — the United States energy secretary, former Texas governor, two-time presidential candidate and A&M alumnus (class of 1972) — in an op-ed published in The Houston Chronicle on Wednesday accused the university’s Student Government Association of rigging the election to favor an openly gay candidate, Bobby Brooks. | Rick Perry — the United States energy secretary, former Texas governor, two-time presidential candidate and A&M alumnus (class of 1972) — in an op-ed published in The Houston Chronicle on Wednesday accused the university’s Student Government Association of rigging the election to favor an openly gay candidate, Bobby Brooks. |
| Mr. Brooks described the past few days as an “ordeal.” He said he first learned of Mr. Perry’s op-ed on Wednesday evening, when he was contacted by a Houston Chronicle reporter. | Mr. Brooks described the past few days as an “ordeal.” He said he first learned of Mr. Perry’s op-ed on Wednesday evening, when he was contacted by a Houston Chronicle reporter. |
| “I was very curious as to why Rick Perry would have devoted his time to this,” Mr. Brooks recalled in an interview on Friday. “And also why he would use my full name in the story.” | “I was very curious as to why Rick Perry would have devoted his time to this,” Mr. Brooks recalled in an interview on Friday. “And also why he would use my full name in the story.” |
| Mr. Brooks says that since the election he has faced harassment from members of opposing campaigns. On March 17, he said, he was accosted at a convenience store in Longview, Tex., by supporters of a rival candidate, whom he declined to identify. He said he was physically threatened and had to leave the store. A friend, Laura Haslam, an A&M junior who remained inside, verified his account and said the young men, whom she did not know, used homophobic slurs after Mr. Brooks left. | |
| The first-place finisher, Robert McIntosh, went to court on Friday to fight his disqualification, which came after he was found to have failed to document a campaign expense: glow sticks that appeared in a campaign video. He filed a petition in United States District Court in Brazos County requesting permission to take depositions from three student government officers he claims conspired to rob him of victory. | The first-place finisher, Robert McIntosh, went to court on Friday to fight his disqualification, which came after he was found to have failed to document a campaign expense: glow sticks that appeared in a campaign video. He filed a petition in United States District Court in Brazos County requesting permission to take depositions from three student government officers he claims conspired to rob him of victory. |
| The petition alleges that Mr. McIntosh was disqualified “based on the fact that he is a heterosexual, white, Christian male.” In a news release, Mr. McIntosh’s lawyer accused the student government association of depriving him of “the free exercise of his religion.” | The petition alleges that Mr. McIntosh was disqualified “based on the fact that he is a heterosexual, white, Christian male.” In a news release, Mr. McIntosh’s lawyer accused the student government association of depriving him of “the free exercise of his religion.” |
| To understand how a student election could get so heated, it helps to understand the fierce loyalty A&M inspires. | To understand how a student election could get so heated, it helps to understand the fierce loyalty A&M inspires. |
| “We have this saying that from the outside looking in, you can’t understand it, and from the inside looking out, you can’t explain it,” said Sam King, editor in chief of the university newspaper, The Battalion. | “We have this saying that from the outside looking in, you can’t understand it, and from the inside looking out, you can’t explain it,” said Sam King, editor in chief of the university newspaper, The Battalion. |
| Recent decades have brought major changes to A&M, which was created by the Texas Legislature in 1871 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. | Recent decades have brought major changes to A&M, which was created by the Texas Legislature in 1871 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. |
| In 1994, the first woman was elected class president. In 2008, the university’s GLBT Resource Center opened. The university has tried to recruit more minority students and now has a vice president for diversity. | In 1994, the first woman was elected class president. In 2008, the university’s GLBT Resource Center opened. The university has tried to recruit more minority students and now has a vice president for diversity. |
| The election of an openly gay student body president was initially hailed as another milestone. Now there are questions about why Mr. Brooks’s opponent was disqualified. | The election of an openly gay student body president was initially hailed as another milestone. Now there are questions about why Mr. Brooks’s opponent was disqualified. |
| The election was held Feb. 23-24. Mr. Brooks was declared the winner on Feb. 25, after Mr. McIntosh was disqualified by the student-run Judicial Court. Mr. McIntosh’s appeal was rejected on March 9. | The election was held Feb. 23-24. Mr. Brooks was declared the winner on Feb. 25, after Mr. McIntosh was disqualified by the student-run Judicial Court. Mr. McIntosh’s appeal was rejected on March 9. |
| It remained a dispute on campus. And then Mr. Perry chimed in. | It remained a dispute on campus. And then Mr. Perry chimed in. |
| “Brooks’s presidency is being treated as a victory for ‘diversity,’” Mr. Perry wrote in his op-ed. “It is difficult to escape the perception that this quest for ‘diversity’ is the real reason the election outcome was overturned. Does the principle of ‘diversity’ override and supersede all other values of our Aggie Honor Code?” | “Brooks’s presidency is being treated as a victory for ‘diversity,’” Mr. Perry wrote in his op-ed. “It is difficult to escape the perception that this quest for ‘diversity’ is the real reason the election outcome was overturned. Does the principle of ‘diversity’ override and supersede all other values of our Aggie Honor Code?” |
| Diversity issues aside, student government elections at A&M are a full-contact sport, said Joseph Puente, who graduated in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in telecommunication media studies. Mr. Puente spent two years as a student senator and in 2012 helped a friend campaign for student body president. | Diversity issues aside, student government elections at A&M are a full-contact sport, said Joseph Puente, who graduated in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in telecommunication media studies. Mr. Puente spent two years as a student senator and in 2012 helped a friend campaign for student body president. |
| “Students have been slinging mud at each other forever,” he said. “It seems like every year the election isn’t decided until both candidates go in front of the Judicial Court.” | “Students have been slinging mud at each other forever,” he said. “It seems like every year the election isn’t decided until both candidates go in front of the Judicial Court.” |
| In 2011, John Claybrook won the election for student body president but was disqualified because he exceeded the $1,800 spending limit for his campaign. (That ruling was later overturned and Mr. Claybrook became president.) In 2015, the student election commissioner resigned under threat of impeachment after ballot errors and multiple campaign violations. The incident became known as Koldusgate after the name of the building that houses the Student Government Association. | In 2011, John Claybrook won the election for student body president but was disqualified because he exceeded the $1,800 spending limit for his campaign. (That ruling was later overturned and Mr. Claybrook became president.) In 2015, the student election commissioner resigned under threat of impeachment after ballot errors and multiple campaign violations. The incident became known as Koldusgate after the name of the building that houses the Student Government Association. |
| “There always seems to be some sort of controversy,” Ms. King said. “I always say that you can’t have an Oreo without milk, and you can’t have a student government election without controversy.” | “There always seems to be some sort of controversy,” Ms. King said. “I always say that you can’t have an Oreo without milk, and you can’t have a student government election without controversy.” |
| But even by A&M standards, the frenzy of accusations and counteraccusations has been extraordinary. | But even by A&M standards, the frenzy of accusations and counteraccusations has been extraordinary. |
| On Friday, Mr. Brooks released an open letter to Mr. Perry — written on the association’s letterhead — offering to meet him and “speak about the important issues you raised in your op-ed.” | On Friday, Mr. Brooks released an open letter to Mr. Perry — written on the association’s letterhead — offering to meet him and “speak about the important issues you raised in your op-ed.” |
| Glaad, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, soon published the letter on its website, alongside a petition supporting Mr. Brooks. The organization reached out to him shortly after Mr. Perry’s op-ed appeared. In a sign of his newfound celebrity, Mr. Brooks now plans to appear at the Glaad Media Awards next week in Los Angeles. | Glaad, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, soon published the letter on its website, alongside a petition supporting Mr. Brooks. The organization reached out to him shortly after Mr. Perry’s op-ed appeared. In a sign of his newfound celebrity, Mr. Brooks now plans to appear at the Glaad Media Awards next week in Los Angeles. |
| “Young people like Bobby Brooks are the future, and should be encouraged, not harassed,” said Glaad’s president and C.E.O., Sarah Kate Ellis. | “Young people like Bobby Brooks are the future, and should be encouraged, not harassed,” said Glaad’s president and C.E.O., Sarah Kate Ellis. |
| At the university’s Memorial Student Center on Thursday, Savannah Harper said she had not read Mr. Perry’s op-ed, but did not understand why everyone was making a fuss about Mr. Brooks’s sexual orientation. | At the university’s Memorial Student Center on Thursday, Savannah Harper said she had not read Mr. Perry’s op-ed, but did not understand why everyone was making a fuss about Mr. Brooks’s sexual orientation. |
| “I’m not saying that personally I support that lifestyle, but as long as he can do the job, that’s all that matters,” Ms. Harper, a sophomore and a fourth-generation Aggie, said. | “I’m not saying that personally I support that lifestyle, but as long as he can do the job, that’s all that matters,” Ms. Harper, a sophomore and a fourth-generation Aggie, said. |
| As for the disqualification of Mr. McIntosh, she cited the Code of Honor, saying that all candidates should follow the election rules. | As for the disqualification of Mr. McIntosh, she cited the Code of Honor, saying that all candidates should follow the election rules. |
| “If everyone was supposed to report their expenses, then he should have reported the glow sticks,” she said. “That’s why we have the code.” | “If everyone was supposed to report their expenses, then he should have reported the glow sticks,” she said. “That’s why we have the code.” |