Shepard reinstated in trial court hearing

The Student Government Trial Court reinstated sophomore Russell Shepard on Wednesday to run in the upcoming Student Government Election.

Trial Court Judge Daniel Marsh ruled in favor of Shepard, reversing a decision made Monday by Alexis Sarver, SG commissioner of elections, that ruled Shepard ineligible to run for University Court.

Shepard, a wide receiver on the football team who is on the "Geauxing the Distance" campaign ticket, missed both of two possible meetings, one of which candidates were required to attend to be put on the ballot.

He missed the first meeting March 9 and the second March 15 when he went to class to take a quiz instead of going to the election meeting, prompting Sarver to disqualify Shepard.

Marsh gave two stipulations for the reversal: Sarver didn't have the authority to tell
Shepard he was disqualified, and he provided proper documentation within the given time period of his absence.

Article II, Section 3 of the SG Election Code states, "All actions of the Commissioner of
Elections must meet the majority approval of the Election Board present and voting."

Sarver made the decision without seeking approval from the board, therefore voiding Shepard's disqualification.

Article III, Section 6 of the Election Code also states "If an extenuating circumstance occurs on the night of a meeting ... the candidate must provide a written excuse to the
Commissioner of Elections within two (2) class days."

Marsh determined a March 15 letter from Derek Cowherd, senior associate director of the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student Athletes, to the Election Board was sufficient evidence to document Shepard's absence from Monday's meeting.

Cowherd, who also serves as Shepard's academic adviser, wrote Shepard went to class for a quiz instead of skipping with full knowledge of how strict LSU football coach Les Miles' class attendance policy is.

"If he misses a class, he has to answer to [Miles] at 7 a.m. the next morning and run sprints," Cowherd said.

Based on the facts presented in Cowherd's letter, Marsh determined it met the criteria for a written excuse as noted in Article III, Section 6 of the Election Code.

"Mr. Shepard's submission ... of Mr. Cowherd's very descriptive explanation constitutes an excuse," Marsh said. "It matches all necessary requirements."

Shepard's name will be submitted to the Election Board on Thursday morning after he completed a meeting Wednesday night to make up for the meetings he missed March 9 and March 15.




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Contact Sean Isabella at sisabella@lsureveille.com.