Eagleionline

From: [Brian Cardoza]

Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 12:39 PM

To: [Nate Kenyon, Director of Marketing and Communications at BC Law]

Cc: [Redacted]

Subject: Telephonic Solicitations Regarding Bylaw Vote

Nate, It is with regret that I have to write on the above subject. Because of its import, I have no choice.

I have received a copy of the attached e-mail which confirms that alumni are being contacted by telephone and asked to register their vote over the phone, as opposed to the ballot submitted with the BCLS Magazine. For several important reasons, this practice is unwise and puts in jeopardy the outcome of the vote.

First, the current bylaws do not authorize telephonic voting of the type suggested and I do not believe the Council has voted to amend the bylaws to allow this practice. Moreover, the ballot itself expressly states, "Your signature is required to vote."

Second, meddling with the voting process in this fashion undermines the integrity of the process. Having the group that is counting the ballots make unsolicited telephonic contact with alumni to rally support of the vote, answer questions about the initiative and then accept verbal votes, runs against even the most basic rules of fair election practices. As one alumni put it, "how do we know the count is accurate?" Moreover, if the very service compensated to "objectively" tally the vote is also answering questions and "selling" the new proposal, how can anyone be sure that the line of objectively has not been crossed?

Third, to the extent that unauthorized votes have been taken over the phone, the entire vote is now suspect and presumably innocent alumni who voted in this fashion are at risk of not having their votes counted.

In sum, what appears to be overzealous efforts to collect the vote is serving only to undermine the integrity of this vote. This is especially true as some alumni who have been contacted telephonically have been asked to vote by phone even though they have yet to received the ballots or even reviewed in detail the new proposed structure. The concerns of the alumnus listed below are not isolated, as other complaints in this regard have been voiced and are circulating nationally, From reports received from the recent Chapter events in San Francisco, Los Angeles, D.C., Philly and Boston, serous concerns about the new structure and doubts about its effectiveness continue to be raised. Efforts to now circumvent established voting rules regarding the amendment of Council bylaws will only act to heighten these concerns.

By this letter, and in the interests of our alumni community, I am requesting that this practice cease and that Erin's question be answered as to who authorized these solicitations? I also request that my friends on the Council please look into this matter and do what is appropriate.

Sincerely, an Alumni for Life,

Brian A. Cardoza