Leaving the third floor of Jacob L. Reddix Campus Union, Adrian T. Pittman had a look of defeat after he was told that he was disqualified for campaigning off campus.

Marqueus Draper/The Blue&White Flash

Adrian T. Pittman

Campaigning for Student Government Association positions for the 2008-2009 academic year began on Feb. 11. Elections were held on Feb. 25. A member of Pittman's campaign committee placed an ad in Facebook, an Internet social networking site.

Michelle R. Hill, a member of the election committee, saw the slogan on Jemison's Facebook page that read "Vote Adrian Pittman for Mr. Senior."

Hill said that Facebook campaigning was pointed out as being against the rules when candidates picked their packets up and was reiterated throughout the speeches and debates that took place that week.

Pittman said other candidates were forewarned about wrongdoings during the campaign process, but he believes he was singled out and used as an example.

"Your warning is when you get your packet, because it states it clearly in the forms," Hill said.

Jemison, who has known Pittman since the fall semester of 2007, said she was unaware of the consequences, because Pittman never broke down the do's and don'ts of the campaigning process.

Pittman said he spent over $125, on that day alone, on pizza, drinks, cake and ice cream, and wishes that he had been informed of his disqualification earlier. He said he spent a total of $350 during the course of the campaign.

"It was unfair to him, and it was unfair to his campaigning committee because we worked hard for him," Jemison said.

Andrea Rucker, SGA secretary and election commission member, was responsible for calling Pittman, informing him of a mandatory meeting that was to take place at 5:30 p.m., after the voting polls were closed. Upon arriving, the other candidates running for Mr. Senior were excused as Pittman was informed of his disqualification.

The day after his disqualification, Pittman filed an appeal with the Division of Student Life, citing that the rule stating that there cannot be advertising on the Internet was not fully documented in the packets.

 Alexandra Castellanos is a guest writer for The Blue&White Flash, the Jackson State University student newspaper, which originally published a version of this article.