A student group accused of violating ASUC election bylaws by taking a side in the recall election of ASUC Senator John Moghtader reached a deal today sparing it a legal hearing.

"I'm going to enter a settlement with the (Jewish Student Union)," said ASUC Attorney General Michael Sinanian.

A severance of party motion will be filed today, removing the Jewish Student Union from a suit before the Judicial Council that charges the group of illegally sending e-mails to students taking a position on the recall.

Terms of the agreement will include a public disclosure and terms of censure that will be worked out starting tomorrow, Sinanian said.

Sinanian filed a charge sheet before the council Monday alleging the Jewish Student Union and the Israeli Action Committee had violated election rules by using mass e-mails to discuss the recall.

Jewish Student Union President Tara Raffi said Tuesday that the e-mail was a statement against the wastefulness of the recall election, rather than a statement for or against recalling Moghtader.

The statement, authored and distributed by Raffi, said, "The Jewish Student Union, a 30-year ASUC sponsored student group and active member of the campus community, is opposed to this recall on the grounds that it is an imprudent use of student funds."

ASUC bylaws say student groups may not "endorse, fund, or otherwise take action positively or negatively on campaigns for propositions in ASUC elections."

Sinanian said the statement from the group questioned the efficacy of holding the recall election rather than directly urging a vote either way.

"It wasn't about a candidate," he said. "To have a full-blown hearing is to unnecessarily elaborate on their actions."

But the Israeli Action Committee still faces a hearing next week to determine whether it violated the election rule.

"That group was much more clearly in violation," Sinanian said.

Tags: RECALL ELECTION, SENATOR JOHN MOGHTADER, ASUC