Chris Lange lost his battle over the position of Associated Students Inc. executive vice president Sept. 15.

Angel Barajas, the new executive vice president, solidified his position as ASI board members denied Lange’s plea for the students’ choice.

Lange did not go without a fight.

“I am the elected vice president,” said Lange at the start of the meeting. “(Barajas) was not elected by the students, nor was he appointed.”

He referred to the ASI bylaws that state an appointment must be made by the president in the event of a vacancy, and then approved by a majority vote from the executive board members.

“I want to make sure the integrity of ASI is upheld,” Lange said.

He said that the process of his removal went against the rules and was preformed unfairly.Lange said ASI never notified him of their decision to dismiss him from office and remained unclear over the grade check’s specific date.

“I am hear to push this legislation not to assume office, but to make sure the ASI bylaws are upheld in the future,” Lange said.

He wanted to make certain that the students would be heard at future ASI meetings.

Members on the board, Kelly Hudnall, director of arts and letters; Lisa De La Rue, director of social science and independent studies; Nicole Croly, director education; and Jessica Gomez, director of business, supported Lange and felt that the ASI rules were meant to be discretional.

“It’s up to us to interpret the bylaws,” De La Rue said.

Patricia Worley, ASI executive director, wanted clarification on the sequence of events leading up to Lange’s removal from office.

“The point of disqualification happened on May 20 … any position that was disqualified fell to the next person with the highest amount of votes,” Worley said. “Student Affairs office checks eligibility. I do not. I am just informed.”

She continued that the position of executive vice president automatically fell to Barajas.

“It did not get treated as a vacancy,” Worley said.

Barajas had his eligibility checked immediately after taking office.

Calvin Davis, a senior and government major, came in support of Lange. He said that students never elected Barajas, and that Barajas was only elected within ASI.

James Shelby II, executive vice president of finance, sided with ASI.

“I think this is malicious legislation,” Shelby said. “This is in direct violation of our bylaws. Even if legislation passed, the council would never overturn the bylaws.”

“At the end of the day, we are asked to see what is best for the students,” said Croly. “That alone and nothing else will go into my decision.”

Last year’s executive vice president, Julio Velasquez, spoke up at the meeting, as well. He sided with Lange and made the board aware of his distaste for Barajas.

“First, Mr. Barajas was never rightfully elected into the executive vice president position by the student body,” Velasquez said. “Therefore, since the true elected officer, Chris Lange, did not take office as EVP, an appointment should have been made by the ASI president and the board should have approved.”

He went on to attack of Barajas’ character, bringing up two past incidents involving fraternity-related confrontations, but was abruptly stopped by Worley who felt the subject had gone off topic.

The members on the board decided to establish a new process for appointments to vacated positions, requiring that complete information on candidates filling a vacated spot in ASI will be required for each board member.

Josh Wood, ASI president, asked that the decision be appealed.

Before, a two-thirds vote for the removal of Barajas from executive vice president went in Barajas’ favor, Lange abruptly left the room.

When asked if they felt students got their choice for vice president, Josh Wood, Shelby and Luke Wood, vice president of academic affairs, could not offer a direct answer.

“I feel we got who a lot of students voted for,” Josh Wood said.

Barajas felt he was the student choice.

“I only lost by 70 votes and that was because another Hispanic minority candidate was running,” Barajas said. “Otherwise, I would have blown Lang out by 400 votes.”

Austin Phillips, a senior and government major, questioned the student government.

“I assumed there would be another election,” Phillips said. “I was surprised also that the VP of Academic Affairs, that we voted to create, was appointed.”Another student accepted the change in officers and trusted ASI’s judgment.”If that’s the way it has to be then I feel I got who I voted for,” said Jessica Gomez, senior and government major. “(Lange) shouldn’t have run if he didn’t have the grades.”

Another position opened up on Sept. 10. Carly Grassinger, former director of undeclared, resigned and ASI is looking for applicants.