I have been quoted as saying that the only time I run is during an election (Seriously though, when have you seen me physically run?). In this spring STUSU election though, I am standing still. Not because I am not campaigning for a position, but because I am observing the candidates, reflecting on the past year and thinking about the future.
This is my final year here. Come May 15, my role in the STU community aside from being an alumna is complete. However, I cannot dismiss the importance of this election, for both the student body and the Union as a whole. For this reason I want to share some advice and thoughts before we cast our votes.
I am of the opinion that a Union should work like a ripple. The stronger you are at the core, the further your impact will reach. So, vote for an executive that is balanced in strengths, cooperative in attitude and diverse in ideas. The more thoughts you have around the executive table, the better. Sometimes a choice that affects students, such as how to approach the city or the administration, is altered by a point made by just one person. Each executive carries their own weight as far as being a representative. Remember, how they present themselves is how their audience will perceive the stock of the students at St. Thomas–including the apathetic ones.
Value should also be placed on the relationship the Union will have with the administration of the university. Many of the services the Union provides are administered by the university, and difficult communications between the two bodies will really help no one, especially the Union and its members–you. So vote for the candidate who is most approachable, prudent and the strongest communicator.
Lobbying is another important issue both provincially and federally. There is even some lobbying that happens on very local levels within the city on behalf of the students. Lobbying is something that, in my experience, eludes many people and is hard to care about. But as painful as it is, it is necessary, like filing your taxes or flossing your teeth. It is important to consider the quality of your lobbying approach along with the respect your approach has with your audience.
So lobbying matters, who you lobby with matters and how the group you are a member of is viewed by the target audience matters. CASA and CFS are the two federal lobby groups for students. I’m not telling you what the acronyms mean or what the groups stand for. This is because I want you to Google them and talk to people about them. Not just one person– people.
It created a hot debate last year around the council table and can make a great difference to students. So get informed, because your reps, the people you vote for, will consider themselves acting on your will and chances are you will have no idea what they are signing you up for.
My advice then is not only to vote, but to vote well. If you have no confidence in any of the candidates, spoil your ballot, but at least mark something down. You are a member of the Students’ Union, so if there is ever anything you do associated with the Union, (besides using the bus pass, applying for an emergency bursary, picking up a STUGenda, using the Help Desk or going to formals) please consider the candidates, and cast a ballot.
-Lydia MacDonell, STUSU VP Student Life
