Green Means Go

From Gatorpedia

The Green Means Go controversy refers to a series of e-mails sent on private Gmail accounts between Student Body President Kevin Reilly, then Senate President Kellie Dale, then Senate President Pro-Tempore MaryGrace Bell and External Affairs Director Matthew Goldberger from May 17, 2008 through May 23, 2008 and their subsequent release to the public.

[edit] Contents

These e-mails, sent on private Gmail accounts, discussed and decided appointments of replacement senators and the appointment of members to the Senate Standing Committees made by the Replacement and Agenda Committee. Within the e-mails were a set of names of applicants for replacement seats along side each individual's organizational affiliations sent by Kevin Reilly. Several of the names were highlighted in green with the instructions "Green means go." Ten of the twelve highlighted names received replacement seats.

The e-mails also included strategy for conducting interviews. In an e-mail sent on May 23, 2008, Kellie Dale said to chairwoman MaryGrace Bell "It's your job to keep o and b(Orange and Blue Party) interviews very very short and fuck Sam (Miorelli)... you can cut the interview off whenever you want." Dale also instructed Chairwoman Bell to "... make sure good questions are asked to our people and that if they aren't doing too well that we keep asking questions."

[edit] Source of e-mails

The original source of the leaked e-mails is unknown. Envelopes with no return address containing printed transcripts of the e-mails were mailed anonymously to The Independent Florida Alligator and then Orange and Blue Party President, Sam Miorelli on October 1st 2008, one week prior to the Fall 2008 General Election. The Alligator printed a front page article on the first day of elections after attempting to verify the validity of the documents. One week after the Fall 2008 General Election, Student Body President Kevin Reilly confirmed the authenticity of the e-mails in an interview with The Alligator.