The chair of the Elections Board was arrested at a house party Thursday evening after allegedly assaulting three women and one man, including some student government members. Robert Stanley punched one man and one woman, pushed another woman to the floor, slammed a woman’s head into a wall and masturbated in full view of party members, according to a Portland police report.
Elections Board chair arrested for assault
The chair of the Elections Board was arrested at a house party Thursday evening after allegedly assaulting three women and one man, including some student government members.
Robert Stanley punched one man and one woman, pushed another woman to the floor, slammed a woman’s head into a wall and masturbated in full view of party members, according to a Portland police report. The report states that Stanley was under the influence of alcohol.
Stanley, who lives on campus in the Ondine Residence Hall at 1912 S.W. Sixth Ave., resigned from his Elections Board position by letter Friday.
Two other members of the five-member Elections Board, which interprets rules and procedures for student government elections, left the board this week.
Student body President Courtney Morse appointed Stanley to his position. She said there were no signs beforehand that Stanley was capable of his alleged actions and “no one expected it.”
Morse said the Associated Students of Portland State University (ASPSU) is working to make sure Stanley will not be involved with student government any longer. “I would not appoint him to any position,” Morse said.
The alleged crimes occurred at around 9 p.m. Thursday night. According to the police report, Stanley assaulted four separate individuals in a short period of time.
The police report states that Stanley “looked very drunk,” stripped off his clothes and began to masturbate in front of party members two times during the night. Stanley then approached a woman aggressively and punched a man in the face who was trying to protect her, according to the report.
Stanley punched a woman in the face who was attempting to push Stanley out the front door, according to the report. Stanley also allegedly “body slammed” a woman and pushed another woman against the wall-knocking her unconsciousness-before he was forcibly ejected from the party.
Police officers and a Campus Safety officer were called to the scene and arrested Stanley without a struggle at the Ondine, where he was found stumbling in the 15th-floor hallway.
Elections Board member Ethan Gross, who said he and Stanley have been friends since they started serving on the board together, said he thinks Stanley’s relationship with student government will diminish after the incident Thursday night.
“I think that obviously there will be some tension between ASPSU and Bob,” Gross said. “I’m not sure how much of a hindrance this will be in our relationship.”
Ethan Berleman, current chair of the Elections Board, said he has had drinks with Stanley in the past and that he thinks Stanley’s stress level could have led to the assaults. He said that Stanley had been drinking alcohol regularly.
“I think his stress level was steadily on the rise,” Berleman said. Berleman said he had never thought that anything like Thursday night’s events would have happened.
Board member Alexandra West resigned Monday and member Jack Mesplay was un-appointed Monday by student government because of time conflicts. A few weeks ago former Chair Mary Dinsdale resigned because of a busy schedule, Berleman said.
Numerous calls to Stanley were not returned by press time.
See pg. 4 for additional information on Elections Board quorum and the member resignation.
