The following is Written by Brian Cauley, following the Connors/Matheson campaign. If you don't have an affiliation with any campaign and are interested in writing, please e-mail su_comm@stfx.ca . The following is independent thought and not the opinion of the StFX Student Union.(Yes Neil already screwed that up once)
Launching what appears to be one of the most accessible campaigns in StFX Student Union history Pat Connors and Scott Matheson seem to be off to a good start. With a comprehensive and frequently updated website C&M are looking for student input to really shape their campaign. However, launching right into the Presidential/Vice-Presidential without a stable platform seems ill-thought and hasty. While these two both posses a notable track-record in Burke House affairs (and Connors is a Student Advocate) the two seem to have put little foresight into their future plans as Pres and VP.
Now I'm not suggesting creating a website, getting a good roster of student support, and planning a campus tour doesn't take preparation, but if this all comes without consideration of what these two actually want to do on the job I'm not particularly inclined to care.
We all know that you want to give students what they want - this is how the tradeoff goes. IF you promise students their desires than students vote for you - that doesn't take a whole lot of courage. What I want to see is these two to come out with some concrete plans of their own. No large advisory committee, no waiting for mass student input, just pure Connors/Matheson insight into where the Union should be headed; than I would really know where these two stand.
A Union that listens to students is the best form of Union....if they produce results. Talking to students all day takes time and can waste energy if overdone. If these two end up holding office than they soon will be bogged down with enough tasks to ensure they will have to make plenty of quick calls without being able to ask a panel of student advisers.
I do not doubt that both Connors or Matheson posses the capabilities to run a Union, but I want to know if they will do it the best. Before I gauge how well the respond to student input I want to be secure in knowing they will make good decisions in the 11th hour when no Sally Q or Joe P is around to ask "what do you want me to do?"
-Brian
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5 comments:
I could not agree more.
It sounds great to say "we're giving you the power to shape things" it may even make the candidates feel like they are developing a new era of student democracy.
But in actuality, the 'your platform' idea doesn't really get a slate very far.
What people want is so diverse, and in the Student Union you are often presented with a lot of conflicting ideas between what various student groups want and what the administration wants.
Furthermore, a lot of students know the issues, but a lot of students don't understand the intricacies of running a unique NPO lobbying organization like the Union. It takes firm belief and firm action to run an organization with a million dollar operating budget, hundreds of staff members, and thousands of constituents.
Also, when Mr.Matheson was the Burke House President, he actually went against his student's wishes and sided with the administration on a number of issues that the students themselves felt very dear about, however I'm sure a reason for those decisions will be presented at some point...
Once again, you can't win an election with fluffy ideas. This sounds good in your head, but if you don't have something real that will work in May 2008, then you shouldn't run at all.
Pat and Scott made a bold and innovative decision to let student input actively form their platform during the campaign.
They have been consulting with a diverse and growing group of students for weeks, actively gaining an uniquely broad perspective of the issues and ideas the Xaverian community is talking about.
In the coming days, Pat and Scott’s superior ability to demonstrate strong leadership, build consensus among diverse groups of stakeholders and act to implement realistic and innovative ways to 'do it better' will become evident when they reveal their official plan for 2008-2009.
In the meantime, Pat and Scott will be taking advantage of council’s decision to extend the length of this year’s campaign and empowering students to change their Union from within.
My God, this is supposed to pass for journalism/campaign coverage? I don't even care about this election and I'm not going to vote, but this is terrible.
Not only is it poorly written, but the reporter uses "I" several times throughout. Re-assign this cub to covering the election for grade 6 class President at the Junior High.
Due to the extension of the campaigning period in this year’s presidential election, The Pat and Scott team took an innovative approach of building upon their platform through the campaign period. This is the only true way in which a union can actually serve its members. On having their views and an idea, it does exist, but is that what we really want? The whole purpose of this campaign is to take some of the already existing issues, build upon them through student input and make sure that every voice gets heard.
It is true to say that there will be no advisory committee to help these two at the eleventh hour, but the fact that both these guys are hard-working, organized and efficient workers; the 11th hour should not be a regular event. When it does occur, I am sure either of them will be more than up to the challenge.
On another note, in response to the comments of "alum" I think it is easier to sit behind a screen and comment on fluffy ideas, but to actually personally visit a majority of the student body and try to make them comfortable with the prospective leaders of the union is what I term as effort. Sure quite a few can come up with a strong platform, put it on paper and flaunt it in your face, but how many of them are actually ready to listen to diverse views and actually consider them.
Actions speak louder than words and action is what Pat and Scott have shown in this campaign.
WTF, an innovative idea to have no idea... really?
This kind of cheap trick is exactly the kind of electioneering I would expect from someone who would try to use a question period at a guest lecture to promote his campaign.
Apparently Pat and Scott were actually only at Jean Chretien's speech to promote their campaign otherwise they would have heard Mr. Chretien's point about how leaders have to lead.
Using a few wordpress templates and creating a slapped together PDF does not win an election... wait a minute this is a university election most of the students won't see past this type of false effort so it's probably going to work.
Is it too much to hope that there could be an election on campus with real ideas, direction and leadership. I guess it is
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