Monday, March 05, 2007

Election time looms...


Voting for Union officers in my first year at Queen's was a whole new experience. Everywhere I turned, be it at the PFC, the Union or the library there were people desperate to assure me they were going to fight for my rights as a student in the coming academic year...

There must surely have been a special offer on sweets around that time with Refresher bars and Drumsticks being used as a 'carrot-and-stick' method to convince me to place a mark beside a particular name on a small piece of paper...

I'm not even sure who I voted for in the end but I definitely acquired a toothache. I distinctly remember however that I had never heard of any of the candidates (save for one Law Society president), I didn't know what their role would be if they were elected, and I'd heard nothing about the elections until the canvassing which took place that day.
This year let's hope it will be different. The March 14th/15th elections (not to be confused with those critical NI ones on the 7th...) will see 17 candidates vie for 5 positions within the Union. The voting will be online in the hope that more students will take an interest and use their democratic right to have a say in the running of their Union. It is unclear of course if it will make any difference - will 10 votes from close friends ensure a victory?

The Union certainly has gone all out in their attempts to create more student interest, with Little Britain themed posters dotted around Queen's and (most) candidate statements available on the website (www.qubsu.org). With none of the current executive running again it will be a fresh-faced team in September. What are your views on the whole process? Do the executive members really make an impact on your student life? Is the paid year in the Union worthwhile or simply an extension of their Uni life?

15 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Lets vote in the same losers we do every year!

Maybe the Gown cud profile them all?

3/05/2007 6:05 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I want all candidates to outline their role, if any, in the irish folk music society recognition fiasco.

I think students need to know what the candidates they are being asked to vote for did on that night.

Enlighten me please...

3/06/2007 1:51 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

3/06/2007 12:57 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Amnesty....

What a blatent lie. I think i know how i voted. I live with one of the Irish Folk music society members, i appeared on a radio broadcast with the secretary suporting him... and i have ben lobbying both those who voted against and those who abstained to change their minds...

I walked out in disgust after the vote was taken. I was not going to let sectraian bigots continue with their cultural facisim in my name.

Amnesty... just to let you know, i have contacted the gown, and will be providing them with proof of how i voted... and will ask them to note you IP address and take appropiate action... I have a fair idea who you are, and moreover, the type of person you are.

If you have to lie in a foolish attempt to discredit myself a claire Bullock, then you are one sad excuse for a human being.

3/06/2007 1:47 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ciarnan do you think that sometimes you take yourself too seriously?

3/06/2007 3:06 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ciarnan,

Sorry!!!!!!

I honestly made a genuine error - I was refering to how you were against the rejection of society status and against the nonsense that took place.

FYI I will probably be voting for you...

Also, are all the IP addresses for communal PCs in Queens not the same?

3/06/2007 11:12 pm  
Blogger Gown Team said...

The Gown would like to remind all those who wish to leave comments on this site that healthy debate and opinions are welcome. However those who wish to contribute to the debate should not leave comments of a personal nature and those which are not factually correct.

3/07/2007 3:23 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I would like to vote but I dont want to vote for a bunch of sectarian muppets that mirrors the ones in the Province wide elections. I will not be voting for people that have petty agendas like the one a few years ago when they tried forcing Gaelic bi-lingual signs on everyone in the Union. NO MORE sectarian politics. Time to work and make the Union better for EVERYONE.

3/09/2007 2:41 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am voting for RON for deputy president

3/09/2007 11:45 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I hear the old election have turned dirty now

1) The returning officer making a ba**s of the online clips. Rules were passed that the online statement must be no longer than 100 words. Now one cadidate running for President had approx 400 words/ half a law essay, of which the returning officer just happened to miss. Another candidate who word count was 250 has only managed to have his taken down by 4.15 today
= WHAT A MESS

2) Candidates and helpers (Queens radio) were caught pulling posters down outside the snack bar/ then instructed by the general manager to take them out of the bin a put the crumpled mess back up. SHAME SHAME. These people should be thrown out of the elections
PS even when elections were very political posters may have come down but not by the candidates infront of cameras and staff.

3)People accusing others of being secterian on their Bebo then realising they had made a F*** up, but it might be to late.

My oh my what a set of elections these are turning out to be/ increased turnout maybe but at what cost- maybe punches will be flying next.
I am sure Electoral courts will be raging into the wee small hours.

3/12/2007 6:16 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ELECTION RESULTS:

President - John Rodger
Deputy President - Sarah McCaffrey
VP Education - Michal Harkin
VP Welfare - Ciarnan Helferty
VP Clubs & Services - Stefan Rafferty

3/15/2007 8:22 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

as i am sure you area all aware of the Irish Folk music society was recognised on monday night when they like every other society produced an outline of the society!! so i don't see what the fuss is about

3/16/2007 9:23 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

get over it - the society was passed on Monday night when they like every other society provide the council with an outline and description of their society. So what is all the fuss about, there are societies which are rejected offical recognition all the time until they are able to inform council with an outline whether written or verbal. Grow up and find something different to moan about!!!

3/17/2007 3:18 pm  
Blogger Keith Anderson said...

"Candidates and helpers (Queens radio) "

erm...Queens Radio had nothing to do with the promotion any candidates election campaign.

3/25/2007 3:44 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Candidates and helpers (Queens radio) "

erm...Queens Radio had nothing to do with the promotion any candidates election campaign.


haha right

3/26/2007 2:12 pm  

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