Elections 08

Ahoy! 

If you want to change the world… or the Union, run for a position in the 2008 Student Union Election extravaganza!

Nominations open today at 0900 1^st Feb 2008 and close at 1100 on Wednesday 6^th Feb 2008

All information can be found online at http://elections.susu.org/

If you have any queries please  email any of the Union Sabbaticals. Or Post here.

Who is running... i wonder?

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE XXX 

Posted at 11:17:37 on 01-02-2008

So I want to look at everyone' manifesto and think my first port of call would be susu.org...

I get there thinking there will be a convenient big box or text linking me to the elections page but I find nothing. So I thought I'd do some looking around the front page trying to find it - we can't be spoon-fed all the time, but there really isn't a link to anywhere.

Now come on, I know because I work in the union that the website is elections.susu.org, but for anyone, most people, how the heck are they supposed to know this? Not one poster in the main student's union building, nothing on the susu site, no posters anywhere (I know because I put up the posters as my job in this union), articles near t the end of the paper - most people only turn the first couple of pages - nice to see that Oceana is more important. All there is in the newspaper on the front page is a hand saying 'vote' - no description of why or what page.

We already have a student's union which only about 1/6 of students here know or even care about, does a complete lack of promotion like this help it? A strong reason why the SUSU president is not going to be allowed on the panel to choose the new Vice-chancellor.

 Whilst I'm on the subject of SUSU - where is the obvious place students can go to find out what each member of the sabbatical team is up to and doing for us? Surely another big poster in the main students union building and others around the campuses updated every week/month would allow a greater number of students see what is actually happening. I can't help but feel I have no idea what is going on half the time. There is a small button on the susu website - I noticed it for the first time this morning. ANd let's be honest - no one uses scrapbook.

 Come on - simple errors can be simply fixed with big effects!

Posted at 10:00:48 on 13-02-2008

Hey Mass,

 With regards to SUSU and the Sabbs, if you go on susu.tv or minutes.susu.org you can see our 3weekly videos or reports on what we have been up to. We have to do them every three weeks and these go to council to be ratified that we are actually doing what we were elected to do.

With regards to the elections bits and bobs, i will forward it on to IT and the rest of the team to get some more inforamtion up and about ready for campaign week.

 WIth regards to voting numbers, we actually have one of, if not the highest voting turn out of students unions in the UK. I know it is still low but we are doing all we can to get the message out, ie through course/faculty reps, societies, clubs etc.

 No matter what i say however, we could always be doing more and i will get on the case :)

 Love CLaire x

Posted at 12:09:03 on 13-02-2008

I've just read Andy's response on scrapbook, and whilst your idea to alternate an advert about elections with one about housing week is a good one, it is worth noting that it's so good it's already happening!  As you point out, replacing it with a housing week advert would result in no publicity, so the IT team have ensured that that isn't happening!

To everyone else, although scrapbook obviously isn't facebook, it isn't pretending to be and although it isn't as successful as an established, global networking site, I think SUSU is showing great awareness of a trend by creating an alternative method of social networking for students who wish to use it.

If you would rather use facebook, that is fine, it has proved its worth through a range of SUSU groups and events, and scrapbook is by no means being forced on you.  Progressive attitudes and views such as those that resulted in scrapbook are what is needed...if you disagree, just don't use it, don't slate it.

With regards to the promotion of elections and other events on campus, believe it or not this isn't the first year that student elections have taken place!  Please trust the full time members of staff that run this year after year, they know what they're doing!

 Lizzie :)

Posted at 17:07:58 on 13-02-2008

Lizzie... you summed it up perfectly...

 Love you x

Posted at 11:16:28 on 14-02-2008