Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2015-04-08/Arbitration report

Arbitration report

New functionary appointments

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The Committee has voted on the 2015 appointments to the functionary team. Two users, Callanecc and Mike V, were granted both checkuser and oversight powers. Callanecc is also serving as an arbitration clerk. Bbb23 was appointed as a checkuser and six other users were appointed oversighters: GB fan, HJ Mitchell, Keilana, Kelapstick, Lankiveil, and Ronhjones. HJ Mitchell is the regular author of the Signpost's Arbitration report.

Of the candidates appointed, none received any oppose votes from the Committee. The arbitrators, however, were evenly split on two other candidates: HJ Mitchell was denied checkuser rights, though he received significant support in the community discussion and on the Committee, one of them writing: "I don't find the opposes convincing." Bbb23 wrote in their nomination statement "I don’t think I’ll use the oversight tool much" and those on the Committee opposing the nomination unanimously cited this as the cause for denying them oversight rights.

One question dominating the community discussion was exactly how many votes from the Committee were needed to appoint a Functionary, whether it was a mere majority or an 80% threshold. This ended up being a moot point since all the candidates either received exactly 50% or 100% of the vote.

The Committee also offered their thanks to J.delanoy "for his years of service" as a checkuser. J.delanoy resigned from his Wikipedia and Wikimedia posts in January, citing demands from his professional life. He became an administrator in 2008, a checkuser in 2009, and a steward in 2010.

In brief

Dreadstar desysopped: By motion, the Arbitration Committee removed the administrative privileges of Dreadstar for "conduct unbecoming of an administrator." Subsequently, he blocked himself, and retired.
Liz appointed as trainee clerk: On March 27, the committee approved Liz as a new trainee clerk. She is the third recently appointed trainee clerk, joining L235 and Robert McClenon; ArbCom requested additional help in January, and with three new trainee clerks, it appears they have found that for which they were looking.