ASUC President Roxanne Winston and CalSERVE senators played an active role in organizing the recall election of ASUC Senator John Moghtader, despite keeping a low public profile about their involvement.

Internal e-mails leaked to The Daily Californian Monday revealed strategic discussions between CalSERVE officials three days after the initial incident in Eshleman Hall involving Moghtader.

"I wanted to put you all in contact with each other to ensure that the process is moving along," Winston wrote, referencing the recall, in a Nov. 17 e-mail sent to senators and a Students for Justice in Palestine official. "I will lend my support as best I can."

CalSERVE Senator Kifah Shah suggested reaching out to Student Action senators to support the recall in an e-mail sent to CalSERVE officials and independent senator Saira Hussain on Dec. 4.

"We could tell SA (Student Action) senators how this really has nothing to do about party politics, but accountability and prove it by how an SA senator would take a seat if the election succeeded," Shah wrote. "SA is not that closely attached to John, probably think of him as dispensable."

Several Student Action senators said they were never approached by CalSERVE officials to further the recall process.

Following Winston's e-mail, CalSERVE member Anurati Mathur used office listservs of External Affairs Vice President Dionne Jirachaikitti to urge recipients to circulate the recall petition.

"Please publicize this on your organization's listserves, your websites, your Facebook status/site, and your status messages on gChat and any other venue," she wrote on Dec. 2. "Please do not forward my e-mail, but rather, write your own," she wrote.

Jirachaikitti said yesterday that she was unaware of the e-mail.

Both Shah and Winston said that they had written their e-mails in a private capacity, rather than as ASUC officials. However, Winston's e-mail included an electronic signature identifying her as the ASUC president.

"Though I did privately support individuals involved in the campaign ... I did not abuse my position or use any ASUC resources inappropriately," Winston said.

Elections bylaws state that no ASUC official can use their authority or office to campaign in an election.

ASUC Attorney General Michael Sinanian said CalSERVE officials including Shah and Senator Mary June Flores had approached him shortly after Shah's e-mail, pressuring him to expedite the process so that the recall could be held during the fall semester.

"They would repeatedly mention to me 'why can't this be done sooner,'" Sinanian said. "For them to want a recall at the end of the fall-during finals-was completely heinous, and in addition it more than implicates them if there is a question whether they supported the recall or not."

At the time, Flores said she had not taken a side in the recall election.

"I can't say for sure what my position is," she told The Daily Californian on Dec. 3.

Winston was also reluctant to take sides publicly, telling the Daily Cal she would refrain from commenting on the recall except on its general implications for the senate.

"I think it could cause division," she said on Dec. 3. "But I think what's most important is that students have a say in who represents them."

Tags: RECALL ELECTION, SENATOR JOHN MOGHTADER