Friday, May 11, 2007

Non-Sabs Announced

The non-sabbatical elections are over for another year with the winners (see below) tonight basking in glory and the runners-up drying their eyes. This year's election did not engender quite the same atmosphere as the sabbatical elections - sadly no circus performers were present - nonetheless candidate manifestoes were widely available and posters were prominent around campus, which is still an improvement on previous years.

As with any election, especially one taking place in Queen's Student's Union, there were a few incidents of note. Bebo reared its ugly head yet again with allegations of slander between fellow candidates - although the situation was resolved before voting took place.

One of the candidates is alleged to have, in a desperate plea to students hard at work, climbed on top of a table in the computer science library and urged everyone to put their pens down and vote...it clearly wasn't a forceful enough persuausion tool as said candidate failed to be elected.

The post-election drama continued with a successful candidate deliberately thanking only one of their two opponents for a 'fair' campaign in a telling acceptance speech.

With the Windel report threatening a huge shake-up in the Union, these could be the last non-sabbaticals to fill the roles as they've traditionally been known for years. As always the coming academic year will prove whether the elected persons will do practical work for the students at Queen's or if their manifestoes were simply false promises...

Student Community Action Officer - Sharon Simpson
Post-Graduate Officer - David McKeown
Cultural Affair's Officer - Alexandra Hobson
Women's Officer - Jennifer Dunn
International Students' Officer - Artur Magrian
Mature Students' Officer - Caroline Lagan

48 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Don't vote for Andrew Charles/Thomas Hogg/Eddie Hanna he's an Orangeman".

Hardly a very positive way to run a campaign.

Eh CB?

5/12/2007 4:45 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous... Care to elabotate on where, when and whom this was said by?

Accusations without proof are pointless.

Not willing to give a name yourself?

5/12/2007 10:24 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Super Result...what a brilliant selection of non-sabb's elecetd.

5/13/2007 1:00 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Shane Mc Donagh,

Ask the Mature Students' Officer if she knows.

5/13/2007 3:51 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

anon... I know for a fact that one of those in that list is an orange man???

5/13/2007 5:48 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Shane

It was said. I was told not to vote for Thomas Hogg bcoz he's an Orangeman supposedly. Typical liberal CU-types - the most intolerant ppl on earth!

5/13/2007 8:26 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good to see such a strong representation of female.

Especially Ms Simpson and Ms Dunn.

'I like'

5/13/2007 9:32 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

'Especially Ms Simpson and Ms Dunn'

Would this have anything to do with the fact that they are unionist?

5/14/2007 12:13 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Congrats to Dunn, Simpson and McKeown. They have all put a great deal of time and energy into the Union over many years. Unfortunate that Charles was running against David, always somebody who coulda helped the union was going to be denied the chance, as for the rest, only time will tell.

5/14/2007 12:23 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good to see Miss Simpson elected. The only DUA person I voted for.

5/14/2007 10:06 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

'Congrats to Dunn, Simpson and McKeown. They have all put a great deal of time and energy into the Union over many years'

This is hardly true. I see Mc Keown now and again, as for the other two. I have done a bot of research and asked around. all that people can tell me is that Dunn and Simpson are on student council (brilliant contribution i'm sure it is) and onw person said that simpson was at the residents christmas party.

how is this 'putting a great deal of time and energy into the Union over many years' a great deal? clearly not

5/14/2007 11:42 am  
Blogger David said...

Anonymous thanks but hopefully I will be able to work with Andrew next year so that we can both benefit the union. As far as the other elections go congratulations to all the candidates

5/14/2007 1:04 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

john roger,

It's not because they are both Unionists.

Ulla Saar was also very attractive although unfortunately lost out by a small margin.

And John I voted for you for el presidente and you arn't a unionist.

I am not interested in people's political views.

Borat

I like

5/14/2007 1:58 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great stuff to wave Eddie Hanna Bye bye: and he lost by only 4 votes, ah well, i take whatever victory i can.

So lets see, the DUA have lost 3 out of 4 Non Sabb's (great stuff)

Ben 'the independent Thinker' Preston is going as are his puppet masters.

Peter Quinn, the most useless person in that exec bar Ben is finally going. (thank God) His only obligations as Dep President are something to do with RAG (he hasn't been to a meeting in ages) and the student newspaper, only one edition the whole year
: what a man.

Then We have Mr Kevin Mc Gourty- enough said.

VP Education Mr Forde, Seems a decent enough type of guy, but you would be hard pushed to get him in his office - or to do any work.

Finally we have Colin 'FREE LOLLY POPS FOR DRUNKS' Caughy, the VP Welfare. He has done more for fair trade than for students. That said, like forde, he seems to be a decent enough lad.


We might actually have a decent exec this year (although i wouldn't hold my breath).

5/14/2007 3:40 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Borat... the new cultural affairs Girl alex Hobson... she's quite nice.

you said you voted for John 'YOU LIKE?'

5/14/2007 3:45 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Perhaps it would be best to allow the recently elected some time to do their new jobs and let them hang themselves by doing nothing or making a hash of it all. Then judgement can be given? Just a thought......

5/14/2007 4:38 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Don't vote for Andrew Charles/Thomas Hogg/Eddie Hanna he's an Orangeman". How pathetic. This is typical of the mentality of the people supposedly representing ALL students at Queens. QUB has had a bad press over a number of years about be a cold house for Protestants/Unionists/Loyalists/Orangemen and women. A reputation like that doesnt get put around for no reason. Down with the sectarian attitudes.

5/14/2007 5:17 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a mixed bag!!

1 DUA
1 Young Unionist
1 CU/amnesty girl
1 international
1 independent mature student

plus the students union hake and legend himself dave mc keown

Class! Although pity Hogg and Mc Larnon didn't get in.

5/14/2007 7:38 pm  
Blogger Andrew Charles said...

If I may thank those that voted for me and indeed for the comments made by the anonymous poster above.

I was pleased with the support I received and thank those for their support and encouragement.

Indeed had I been elected I would have endeavoured to be an officer for all and contributed constructively to the Union.

I will certainly be around next year and endeavour to work with David - who I have and will publicly congratulate here.

Postgrad officer was one of the few positions that did not see any political 'mudslinging'.

I thank David for a constructive and mature campaign.

As for some comments made here and elsewhere I see that the forever political mudslinging continues and is pursued by a minority. It is just sad that it is brought to a head in order to disgrace peoples' names in aid of whatever their motive may be.

I respect a persons political opinion - provided it is of a constructive and democratic nature. It is therefore sad and disgraceful to see anyone use one persons political persuasion or identity against them. Its about time some people just moved on.

The Students' Union has long been a catalyst for 'negative' politics. The last few years have seen changes - lets see that change continue for the betterment of all the students' at Queen's regardless of political opinion, religion or race.

Well done once again to David and indeed to all the winners in this election! I am especially pleased for Sharon Simpson who was one of my running mates and who will, I trust, be an excellent SCA officer.

Best wishes,

Andrew

5/14/2007 9:18 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

jonathan,

How about putting your money where your mouth is and putting your name before the student electorate?

Or do you just prefer to snipe from the sidelines?

Unconstructive waster

5/14/2007 11:33 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Andrew, you seem like a decent guy and i'm truly sorry you didn't win. However, yo should be more diligent and careful in future with whom you run. I think your alignment the the Campign For a Better Union didn you no favours.

It became clear to me and to many many others that this campaign was little more that a cover for political point scoring. Some of the people involved in that campaign have questionable pasts and histories (and voting records on studnt council - even though no voting records are kept, it is very clear on what groups these people vote)

You said

'The Students' Union has long been a catalyst for 'negative' politics. The last few years have seen changes - lets see that change continue for the betterment of all the students' at Queen's regardless of political opinion'

here here: but once again, thsoe with whom you run help barnd and define your image... and i believe, contributed to your loss.

The best of luck to you, and i hope that Mc Keown keeps his word and works with you next year as reagard post-grad issues... We need someone to do actually something for a change

5/15/2007 1:29 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anon... you said

'I was told not to vote for Thomas Hogg bcoz he's an Orangeman supposedly. Typical liberal CU-types - the most intolerant ppl on earth!'

there was only one person who ran from the CU- that girl Hobson. Is she the CU-Liberal Type you refer to?

5/15/2007 1:31 am  
Blogger David said...

I will indeed be working with Andrew next year as we have already discussed, as I welcome input from anyone who can benefit students.

5/15/2007 11:58 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

whos to say helferty and his mates are aligned with anyone?

5/15/2007 12:47 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well done to all those elected to non-sabbatical positions.

5/15/2007 2:38 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What were the figures for the election? They haven't been posted on the Union site and I would be very keen to see them.

5/15/2007 3:05 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"there was only one person who ran from the CU- that girl Hobson. Is she the CU-Liberal Type you refer to?"

Hobson managed to bring in the CU vote and that associated with Helferty's sabbatical team. But yet she still only managed to get circa 350. No exactly impressive seeing as she had basically both sides of the sab contest!

Well done to Ulla and Thomas who managed to get around 30 and 260 respectively. They did well do push Alex so close considering the hge odds against them.

5/15/2007 7:29 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Correction:

Ulla Saar got around 300 not 30. Typing error.

Excellent for an international student.

You go girl!

5/15/2007 9:17 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Hobson managed to bring in the CU vote and that associated with Helferty's sabbatical team. But yet she still only managed to get circa 350. No exactly impressive seeing as she had basically both sides of the sab contest!"

This is very unfair to Alex... She ran her own campaign and won on her own merits. I nominated her and did a bit of canvassing, that was the extent of my support.

Actually, Sarah Mc Caffery was out canvassing for another candidate so its not quite true to say 'the vote associated with Helferty's sabbatical team'

Regardless... she won, and will be a great non-Sabb.

Congrats to all those who won, commiserations to those who didn’t get in this time.

5/16/2007 12:10 am  
Blogger Unknown said...

I must reiterate what has already been said by congratulating all of the newly elected non-sabbs. I hope that the new university year will bring much success to the Union and to you all, especially Sharon, who, as I will state over and over again until I'm blue in the face, is a very deserving winner.

Also I feel it is my duty to inform you all that this election did not leave David McKeown in hospital, so congratulations all round.
(just kidding you, Chief, congrats mate)

5/16/2007 1:44 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ciarnan,

I am just pointing out that starting of with such unprecedented support, Alex Hobson didn't do as well as would have been expected.

Ulla Saar got around 300, some of which came from those people who voted for your group in the sab elections.

Thomas Hogg got around 260, not so bad considering that the CU vote which usually goes to the better union campaign largely went to Alex.

5/16/2007 8:37 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Alex Hobson didn't do as well as would have been expected"

Thomas has been on the Student Council for an entire year and is head of the Democratic Unionist Association (DUA)... the DUP at Queens and he largest political party with the largest political representation at Queens.

Ulla ran with 4 others each of whom were out canvassing for her. She is well known I the students union and I think her vote reflects that.

Alex… No one knew who she was before she ran. She hasn’t been to CU all year, and never mentioned in any of her material anything about what religion she is. She wasn’t nominated or seconded by any of the CU Exec, nor did she canvass or make announcements at CU at any point… So as for the CU vote – I’m not sure what your talking about.

Come to think of it, have I not seen Thomas at CU?

As for the ‘Helferty’ vote… I think you give me far more credit than I deserve.

‘Alex Hobson didn’t do as well as would have been expected’… is a win not doing well these days? Give me a break. Perhaps instead of picking defeats out of a win, you should have the good grace to at least congratulate her…

5/16/2007 10:30 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ciaran helferty is a great guy hell do soooo much for the union nxt yr along with the other wasters

5/17/2007 9:55 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anon: Do you even know who he is? You don't even seem to be able to correctly spell his name.

I know he can go off on one trying to save the world and all that amnesty crap, but what has he ever done to offend you?

He's not the worst by far (not the best though mind you too)

5/18/2007 3:20 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yes yes we all know who the worst is. On a completely different topic altogeter, has anyone seen Eddie Hanna these days?

Leave Helferty alone, hes a decent guy. Apart from his essays which i am forced to read on here, whats peoples problem with him?

5/19/2007 10:42 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yea I am here, I have'nt gone away you know. Just because you lose an election does not make any difference, plenty of people have lost, I HAVE BEEN REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE WON 2.

I am not sure what you mean. I was in on Mon for executive, wed for a meeting and Thursaday to go over some info with Ben on a report, and also got election regulations meeting so I sure that will be fun.

I feel I did well in the elections, I still got more first pref. Its hard to beat the Union hacks, but sure such is life, at least Sharon is coming into my position next year. Some might even think it was a cunning plan eh eh Helferty

PS I also got exams at the minute like other students, so it is a little trival asking me where I am- probably the same place as the other 25,000 students at this time.

5/20/2007 9:40 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm so glad Masterfood have pulled out of their ploy to contaminate their lovely chocolate with animal products.

5/21/2007 11:04 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I see there is a new student paper now out? Maybe the gown could do an independent critique of this piece of trash? (i have read more interesting news on the back of my cornflakes. What is with that Union and what are those people at? Who is in charge of the student newspaper i the Union??

We get nothing for months and months and then they insult students with a paper so badly written and disremoved from what people might actually care about- it makes me sick.

Perhaps the Gown should get the money allocated for a student newspaper, you seem to do a decent enough job as it is with no cash, Just what type of paper could you produce if you had the resources that Union has?

5/22/2007 3:15 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Who is in charge of the student newspaper i the Union??"

Peter Quinn and his deputy DAvid McKeown.

Despite this newspaper being absolutely pathetic how are these people rewards? By getting elected.

5/23/2007 1:34 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What have they both been elected to?

5/23/2007 5:10 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is not the first year Quinn has been a balls of the union newspaper.

It was the same last year and he got re-elected. On what merit one may ask??

McKeown has just got elected as post grad officer. If the electorate had have seen his great great track record of reports to the SRC and this newspaper would he have been elected?

Probably, as student elections have nothing to do with candidates merits.

Shame on both of them.

5/23/2007 7:14 pm  
Blogger David said...

Actually I am no longer in charge of the newspaper in anyway. This said there is little excuse for having no papers out when I was nominally involved but as deputy editor that decision was not mine to make.

5/23/2007 9:43 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Actually I am no longer in charge of the newspaper in anyway."

You're term of office isn't over yet.

Shame on the DUA for allowing you to get a free run as the inaugral council meeting

5/24/2007 4:04 pm  
Blogger David said...

My lack of written reports to council this year was indeed unfortunate but was in no small part due to my ongoing health problems. Consequently I submitted verbal reports and welcomed comment and criticism. None was forthcoming from any councilor. This being said the lack of reports I do not feel detracts from my ability to be Postgraduate officer.

I am very proud of both my record in council this year and of my involvement with RAG. If you feel that I shouldn't be then I welcome the debate. My only reservation is that here is not the place for it but I would welcome it on my own blog http://queensstudent.blogspot.com.

As far as Pete goes I am in no position to speak for him but would like to thank him for the work he put in to making RAG successful again this year.

Again I would like to re-iterate that I had nothing to do with this edition of the newspaper as I ceased to be deputy editor following the May statutory meeting of council. This is not me giving an opinion on the newspaper merely it is a statement of fact

5/24/2007 5:55 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I didn't know Jenny Dunn was an Ulster Unionist when I voted for her.

Know its on their website that she won as a young unionist candidate.

What a con job!!!

5/25/2007 10:54 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Looks like non-sabs will be abolished under windell.

5/28/2007 9:14 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Is it true that the LGBT society may have its recognition revolked?

5/29/2007 3:52 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

They are going to lose it if they don't remove the pornography from their website.

5/30/2007 9:05 pm  

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