Opinions
RIC NCAA Tourn. Page 8
Middle East Conflict Page 14
u
March 17, 2008
Visit http://anchorweb.org for articles and archives
22
Sports
Vol. 80 Issue #22
AnchoR
The The
Free Access to Ideas... Full Freedom of Expression
SCG Moves Forward From Impeachment Trial body, it was decided that Secretary Christopher Buonanno will not be asked to resign from his position. Almeida was the victor in a three-way election for The March 5 meeting of Student Parliament was al- vice president, winning with a decisive 14 votes, the minmost as eventful as the last few meetings, yet in a differ- imum required for election, to opponents Nicholas Ronent tone. Jennifer Almeida was elected as the new Vice deau and Kervin Leonidas, who received 6 and 4 votes, President of Student Community Government, Inc. and respectively. Almeida won after delivering a short speech outlinAnjum Hava was chosen to be the new Deputy Speaker of Parliament. The two seats had been open for several ing her goals for the job. Hava, who defeated Rondeau weeks following the resignations of Vice President for Deputy Speaker in a closer race, also gave brief remarks and was able to win in just one round of voting as Christopher Giroux and Deputy Speaker Ericka Atwell. Almeida, who is also president of Rhode Island Col- well. Following the special election meeting, first on the lege’s Sigma Iota Theta sorority, joined Parliament last semester, while Hava has served on the body since last May. agenda for the regular Parliament meeting was the quesAlso, later that night, after giving a speech to the tion of how to address the situation surrounding Secretary Buonanno. This part of the drama began back at the impeachment trial of Ericka Atwell, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit election fraud and conduct unbecoming of a Parliament member at the Feb. 27 trial and permanently banned from RIC student government. During the trial, Atwell called Buonanno to the stand. She asked him if he had signed the petition that was a key piece of evidence in the case. When he responded, “yes,” the room Parliament members look on during the impeachment trial of Ericka went silent. This became a Atwell on Feb. 27. Photo by Grace Ionata major point of contention for By Kam Spaulding Anchor Editor
Hillary Clinton (D) is climbing right back into the election after a series of wins by fellow Democratic candidate Barack Obama put his delegate count ahead of Clinton’s. With big wins in three states, including Rhode Island, her campaign is running strong. Rhode Island was one of her largest wins to date with a decisive 59-40 win. “When I visited Rhode Island, I said that this little state would have a big voice in this election,” said Clinton in a press release on election night. “I am so
Hillary Clinton at RIC rally Feb. 25.
proud and honored to have such broad and decisive support from the great state of Rhode Island.” Clinton did favorably all over the state winning in Pawtucket, Woonsocket, North Providence, Johnston, Central Falls and Warren. She also won by sizeable margin in Warwick and Cranston, two communities that are crucial in Rhode Island elections. She carried rural communities, including Burrillville, Glocester, Exeter, Foster, Hopkinton and Richmond, as well. Obama won Providence, the affluent suburbs of Barrington and East Greenwich, and the university town of South Kingstown. He also won in Block Island and Little Compton. On the Republican side, Arizona Sen. John McCain easily defeated his opponent, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. The day was much bigger than Rhode Island for McCain as he secured the Republican nomination with big wins in Texas and Ohio. Exit polls conducted by the Associated Press showed that about three-quarters of Rhode Island voters interviewed said that they are worried about their families’ financial situation. More than half identified economy as the most important issue, far outnumbering voters who ranked the war in Iraq and health care as the most important. One thing that the Obama camp took from the night is his continued strength and strong turnout in college towns. He won two of Rhode Island’s college towns in South Kingston (URI) and Providence (RIC, PC, and JWU). Obama also led in one category in RI: spending. The Ill. senator more than doubled Clinton’s spending on network television advertising in the state, according to Evan Tracey, the chief operating officer of Campaign Media Analysis Group, a national firm that tracks campaign spending. Both candidates ran their first network television ads in the Ocean State on Feb. 15, three days after advertising first appeared in Ohio and Texas, Tracey told Political Scene. Between Feb. 15 and March 4, Obama spent $661,000 on television advertising in RI versus Clinton’s $270,000.
Cont. on page 3
RI PRIMARY RESULTS
Clinton Sweeps RI Primary By Kam Spaulding Anchor Editor
the rest of the week as many Parliament members expressed their displeasure. Buonanno admitted on the stand that what he did was a mistake, and after the trial there was talk of resignations from members of Parliament to the Executive Council. Buonanno later said that he would not be resigning unless asked to by Parliament at the March 5 meeting. “It is in the hands of Parliament now,” was the comment from Buonanno regarding his decision. In a prepared speech, he began his remarks at the meeting of March 5 by stating, “The past two weeks have been some of the most tumultuous times in the history of this Corporation.” He mentioned the trial of Atwell and the possible resignations of himself and all other officers in his statements. He also explained why he was not “concentrating” when he signed the petition. Buonanno had been coming from a meeting with Communications Department Chair Harriet Magen to add a class after a RIConnect error left him below full-time status at the time he signed Atwell’s illegal petition. He closed by thanking everyone for allowing him to serve the student body and then left the
D E M O C R A T S
R E P U B L I C A N S
Clinton
108,750 votes
Obama
75,115 votes
Uncommitted
1,039 votes
McCain
17,468 votes
Huckabee
5,839 votes
Paul
1,775 votes
Uncommitted
567 votes