If the resolution passes, committee Chairman Gregory Wahl will head up efforts to investigate and consider all facets of the conduct, official actions, duties and any alleged improprieties of the CAA and will submit a written report of the findings to the speaker of the current or upcoming Congress.
Congress member Matt Fisher said the resolution he authored is not an accusation against the CAA but a fair opportunity to answer questions that have been raised. "I have no idea whether or not something went on, but we've had enough complaints (that) we thought we'd look into it," Fisher said.
CAA President Tee Pruitt said an inquiry is necessary. "Everything we've handled this year has been very sound." Pruitt said the CAA has received complaints all year, but they do not warrant any action against the organization.
"You're never going to make everybody happy," he said. "I think a lot of rumors have been blown out of proportion ... People only hear what they want to hear."
After suspicions of a rigged Duke ticket distribution prompted some to question the CAA's integrity, further concerns were raised as CAA Cabinet members publicly aired grievances and lined up on opposite sides of the fence in the group's most controversial race for CAA president in recent years.
After the highly contested race, more accusations were flung back and forth as three Cabinet members were fired for allegedly putting campaign allegiances before Cabinet duties while another resigned in protest.
Fisher said the CAA is a student-funded organization and should be investigated if students are unhappy with its actions. Student Congress allotted $7,526.83 to the CAA for the next academic year. "(If the resolution passes,) we will conduct an investigation looking into the CAA and see if they are a good use of money," Fisher said.
The resolution states that the CAA is an officially recognized organization that has "persistently been embroiled in allegations of: scandal, corruption, patronage, mishandling of staffing concerns, improper distribution of tickets, improper intervention in campus elections administered by the Board of Elections, abuses of discretion and improper behavior."
The recent controversies prompted Fisher to take action and try to answer questions that have been lingering all year. "In the long run, it probably won't have a huge technical effect, but we can see what's going on -- and maybe it would have an effect," he said. "I thought maybe it would be a good idea. I thought this is as good a time as any."
