RightMichigan.com exclusive

Rallies by Hollywood singers "Will I Am" and Tatyana Ali for Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign at Ferris State University and Central Michigan University were run through student spin-off groups in an attempt to circumvent a state law prohibiting public resources from being used for partisan political purposes.

The two will be at FSU on Sunday in an event scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in the West Campus Community Center before driving to CMU for a 5:30 p.m. rally at the Bovee University Center.

Both rallies are in violation of Michigan law because they are being held in state-owned, taxpayer-funded facilities.

The Obama campaign was allowed free use of taxpayer-funded facilities because students turned in the reservation requests for the venues.

Using Students for Barack Obama as a front group to save a couple dollars might have seemed like a good idea to the Obama campaign, but now it could cost both the campaign and the two universities.  

The Michigan Campaign Finance Act prohibits using state funds, office space, property and other public resources for partisan political purposes.

The penalty? A misdemeanor conviction and $20,000 in fines -- there's even the possibility of a year in jail for offenders.

According to the Obama website, both events are partisan rallies with campaign staffer Ted York listed as the coordinator.

This contradicts the claim by Students for Barack Obama that they were organizing and coordinating the events, which are being marketed as "voter registration drives."

A complaint was filed Thursday by the Campus Conservatives at CMU with the Secretary of State, which is responsible for investigating campaign finance violations.

"This free use is an illegal expenditure and contribution, as defined by the Michigan Campaign Finance Act," the complaint states.

The complaint also notes "Obama for America, through its Students for a Barack Obama affiliate, has repeatedly violated the Michigan Campaign Finance Act by using state office space, property and public resources for partisan political events" between October 2007 and earlier this month.