Austin Menyasz was all smiles today, and all praise for the other interviewee, Dean Haldenby. Menyasz officially launched his bid to succeed to Sylvia Lewis-Havard next year, and got a surprising, though maybe reluctant(?) support from the outgoing CEO.Interesting interview because Menyasz was also in favour of a referendum on the Canadian Federation of Students, and asked Haldenby what he would do to ensure a "fair" referendum.
On another note, both guests exchanged their ideas on how to get a higher voter turn-out, with Menyasz coming out with the most ambitious idea of having "slates", though he does not call them slates. Rather, he refers to them as "voting blocks."
We got a few interesting questions from the field, discussed the role of Community Life Services (CLS), low voter turnout, the Dean Machine™, potential training to all candidates before elections, fiscal responsibility (surpluses).
Photo courtesy of Jason Chiu. The SFUO2 Blog™ exclusive.
10 comments:
i have to say that the idea of slates, as he describes them in the podcast, sound like they might be something implementable. i know they have rigid slates at queen's, but if that could be adopted sort of into a party system... why not!
I doubt Sylvia's reply was relunctant. She didn't even want the job in the first place; no one else competant enough applied. With previous CRO experience, I have been thinking about applying for it for next year. Sylvia is doing a great job. This negative criticism is getting annoying and old. And that last comment is for Wassim and Austin and anyone else criticizing her role as CEO. I would like to see any of you try it.
Mystery commenter... if you're so keen on going after the job yourself, why not give your name and throw your hat into the race?
(Yes I know the Hypocrisy of writing under a pseudonym)
I'm just wondering why Austin was even invited for an interview by Dean's side. I mean, if it were an interview about the whole situation with RPG, then fine. But it just seems to me that Austin is kinda old news and that this whole interview is somehow setting him a whole new image. Covering up the dirty past perhaps?
Dear just wonderin',
The invitation was sent to every single reader of this blog. It turned out that Austin Menyasz and Dean Haldenby were the only ones that came to the studio.
Had you showed up, Just wonderin', you could have been featured side by side with these two students.
Evil Wassim tried to get me to go at 4:30 in the morning.
Now I can't sleep.
I don't think that this is a case of negative criticism. What we had was a discussion of what could be done better in future elections. These elections have had major shortcomings in that they have been done efficiently, but not effectively. I think that a fair argument made was in these exchanges that there is clearly a need for change in how the elections are done. Sylvia has done a good job of running solid elections, but there is no sign of a dramatic change. A shift towards high voter turnout.
Perhaps this is not necessarily her fault entirely, as the SFUO Executive is equally responsible for promoting these elections.
However, the argument that I am making here and made during my interview is that there are many avenues that are not being explored in order to better market the elections to students. To ensure that they are going to remain relevant.
I have an abundance of experience in campaigning, and I know how to connect students to ideas and get votes. I'm hoping that i can translate this to the elections, and turn it out.
You heard it here first, and will hear it again when I submit my candidacy (which I have been actively considering all year seeing as elections are a passion of mine): I have a strong plan to achieve minimum goal of 25% voter turnout in my first year as CEO and have a progressive plan to achieve upwards of 50% voter turnout in the following 5 years based on systems that have worked at other universities and a more comprehensive electoral campaign in terms of marketing.
It is not unreasonable to think that we can make such a quick shift, seeing as this trend has been visible at other universities in Canada. It just requires an effort. And the incoming SFUO Executive is going to have to be willing to open the coffers to allow the financing that such a massive campaign would require.
The payoff? Legitimacy, and a great sense of spirit and ownership within the university. The elections are a chance for students to connect and then remain involved based on their votes (whether it be for the one they support, or waiting for their next chance to effectuate change should the elections not go their way**).
I sincerely hope that my current reputation doesn't deter people from considering the well-thought out platform of change that I have conceived.
To address people like "just wonderin'", controversy can happen but that doesn't necessarily mean that someone doesn't actually care about the process.
So, I would hope that someone else does apply for the position, and they too have ambitions to really reach the students and bring the elections to everyone. It would be a very refreshing image to have some new faces around the SFUO with more ideas being presented in campaigns! Similarly, I do hope that the 'slate' or 'party' system is considered (seeing as a party system does not contravene any elections rules that I am aware of as they are not a slate in the sense that the constitution forbids).
But Wassim definitely deserves a shout out for this blog, as without it there would be significantly less talk about the candidates and probably an even more dismal turnout than everyone seems to be predicting...
** This is where the idea of direct democracy through town-halls or General Assemblies that some candidates have been talking about becomes relevant. Involvement means that they will feel a greater sense of attachment, which will then translate to voting.
"When one has a record of inactivity and irresponsability, and proposes lofty goals to get ahead in the system, to those who are in the know it's just more egg on one's face."
I think U. Thant said that.
pepperoni, is your idea of status quo 5-10% better? i'm tired of apathy, and maybe it would take an effort like the one espoused at stfx to change things.
and did you just quote yourself or something? haha.
I definitely think that an improved voter turnout would be awesome. SFUO (and GSAED) elections need a higher turnout.
I just don't think that Menyasz will follow through with his promises. His past backs me up quite fairly. I just didn't want to come out and say it outright.
And yeah, U. Thant did actually say that ;)
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