Carlie Hall, a candidate for Fresno State student body president, did not realize receiving an endorsement from state Assemblymember David Tangipa would create so much controversy.

Hall, who describes herself as a conservative, is at the center of a campus firestorm that also involves Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval and the university’s associate dean of student involvement, Dr. Amy Allen.

Even as the student elections wrap Thursday, it appears that the debate, allegations, and counter-allegations involving Hall’s campaign will continue for some time.

“They (the university) were going to do whatever it took to get me out,” Hall told GV Wire. “It was violation after violation that was either made up or fabricated or they approved it and then pulled approval, which is completely unfair and unjust.”

In fact, Hall fears she may be disqualified even though she’s on the ballot.

The other students running for president are Camalah Saleh and Guadalupe Zamudio Telles.

Alleged Violations Stack Up

Hall is a member of The Next Steps slate, which received its first notice of violation for an endorsement video featuring Tangipa, a Republican, the youngest member of the Assembly, and a former Fresno State football player.

The Associated Students, Inc. initially approved the endorsement but later said it was misrepresented and violated campaign guidelines, university documents show.

The university issued a second violation for distributing PRIME energy drinks on campus. In addition, Allen approached Hall regarding the display, leading to a verbal altercation and a PRIME inflatable display hitting Allen. Hall said that wind knocked the display into Allen.

Now, Allen has been temporarily appointed to the ASI Election Commission.

Hall had submitted a waiver request to distribute PRIME beverages, which University Catering denied, according to the violation notice signed by ASI Election Commissioner Mary Davis.

Fresno State holds an exclusive contract with PepsiCo, prohibiting the distribution of other beverages during campus events. But the distribution of non-PepsiCo beverages consistently occurs on campus by other organizations, Hall said.

Controversy peaked when a student alleged that Saleh provided $2,000 to a club president in exchange for an endorsement and member votes. The student’s name was on a list of potential campaign workers Hall turned into ASI, but Hall said he never worked on her behalf.

University President Gets Involved

That claim was proven false, and ASI delivered an official clearance of allegations against Saleh. Jiménez-Sandoval then formed a committee to investigate the situation.

Evidence of Jiménez-Sandoval’s bias came, Hall says, when an ASI director advised her to contact a lawyer because he wanted her “off the ballot.”

GV Wire’s request to Fresno State for comment on Hall’s allegations was not received before publication of this story.

Hall said her legal counsel delivered a cease-and-desist letter to the university objecting to the committee reviewing the campaign disputes. Her counsel also requested documents related to the election.

The document says the university president abandoned the Student Court, responsible for adjudicating election disputes, to create a committee. The Student Court was down a member who had recently resigned.

Additionally, the Student Court Justice Melanie Mora was excluded from the committee, according to another cease-and-desist letter sent by Hall’s attorney, Bradley W. Hertz, of Los Angeles.

The committee met on March 31, a state holiday, to evaluate the dispute. It’s unclear what decision, if any, was made.

Tangipa Defends Hall

ASI first approved Tangipa’s endorsement of Hall based on an understanding that he was presented as a “Board Member of the Fresno State Alumni Association,” and the endorsement was solely based in that context.

Later, the Alumni Association was deemed to not meet criteria of a campus organization, which is necessary for endorsement, according to a violation notice.

Additionally, the post included Tangipa’s elected state position and the slate’s plan to “leverage relationships with appointed officials.”

Therefore, the conditional approval was reversed due to “incomplete or misinterpreted information.”

Hall said she felt “blindsided” by the violation. She later reached out to Tangipa, whom she has known her “whole life,” for support.

“I kind of felt like that was the only option. Unless we were advocated for by people that Saúl respected, there was no way that we were going to get anything done,” Hall said.

Tangipa personally called Jiménez-Sandoval, Hall said.

Allen Joins Election Commission

The current ASI President, Faith Van Hoven, issued an Executive Order appointing Allen to the ASI Election Commission.

The temporary appointment will end on April 9 or upon the return of ASI Director James Martinez. Martinez has been “missing in action” since voting opened on April 1, according to Hall.

Allen is overseeing election procedures and compliance with ASI policies. Votes will be counted and elected officials will be announced today.

Hall and her attorney objected to the appointment of Allen, calling it “extremely inappropriate and highly prejudicial.”

The document cites Allen’s involvement in one of Hall’s violations and her “adverse position towards Ms. Hall” as conflicts of interest.