Opinion ID: 1426237
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Student Union Slate

Text: In the Fall 1996 term, some CSI students concerned about various student life issues at CSI and CUNY began meeting and formed an organization they called the Student Union. During the student government elections in the Spring 1997 semester, the Student Union ran a slate of candidates for a total of 37 positions in the Student Senate and other governing organizations. Several editors and staff members of the College Voice, including some of the plaintiffs, were among the candidates running on the Student Union slate. The only opposing slate was Students for Students (SFS), which was composed mainly of incumbent members of the Student Senate seeking re-election. Almost all of the candidates in the Spring 1997 election were affiliated with either the Student Union or SFS slates. The Spring 1997 student government election at CSI was scheduled to take place between April 30 and May 3, 1997. Before the election, CSI's SERC approved eight election rules. Two of those rules are at issue in this litigation. Rule 2 provided: The campus newspaper may not be used as posters on walls, bulletin boards, etc. and may not be used as a means to distribute campaign flyers. Rule 5 stated: The Student Government will be glad to make you 30 copies of your stamped and approved poster or flyer. All candidates must remove their election materials from the designated areas after the election is over.