Debate Observations
Lisa, John and I were all at the Studley debate today. I think Lisa’s going to do a full recap, so I’ll just stick with a few of my “friendly observations.”
President:
Only Snow and Zimmerman showed up. Debo made a cameo during the VP Education portion of the programme, but had left by the general question period. I’m sure he had a class. I’m also sure half of the other candidates also had a class…but I digress.
Snow isn’t confident at the podium, Zimmerman looks relaxed and at ease. Zimmerman doesn’t have awesome voice modulation, Snow is an engaging speaker. They both need to work on their eye contact.
They both answered questions well, but let’s face it, this is for all the marbles, they aren’t going to screw it up.
VP Internal:
Can we just elect them both? They are so committed and really know their stuff. I am concerned/confused about Mark’s plan to have a DSU website that can be updated by anyone. There’s info on his website about how we could do this. I have no question that it *can* be done, I’m just not sure we *should* do it. Mark did, however, show that he was a class act when he stood up for his opponent in the face of attack. Bravo.
VP Education:
I’m surprised how much Burns knows for being a newbie to the scene (he’s so young looking I feel like if I got close enough, he’d smell like womb). LeForte demonstrated that he knows both a whole lot about the intricacies of PSE funding and also how to tie a double windsor knot. I approve of both. Once again CASA is a hot topic. Burns says we should drop down to associate member status. He hasn’t given me a good reason why.
VP Student Life:
Kris is running unopposed. Like John, I say if he wants the job again, we should give it to him.
Senate:
Best. Race. Ever. Between Simms’s quirkiness, Evans’s adorable/genuineness and Blake’s general smile inducingness, this is by far the best group to listen to. Big points to everyone for reading up on the Academic and External committee and coming to class knowing the answer. Extra points to Simms for picking up the microphone so that he didn’t have to slouch at the podium (Snow, Burns et al. take note!)
Board of Governors:
Why aren’t these people running the country? They’re all so well-qualified and eloquent it makes me a little queasy. Give me something to nitpick about, people!
Harris has commented many a time about how he was the President of “another institution” and he used to live in Antigonish…people can put two and two together Harris, why not just tell them that magical institution was St. FX? Also, would it kill FPW or Horne to smile? I know BoG is all serious and stuff, but come on. Look at that, I totally found stuff to talk about. Crisis averted.
There were general questions from the audience (which was quite full, actually. Nice one) but I only half paid attention. Bad pundit. Lisa took better notes than I did.
gold.
Debo’s probably trying to duck the Nazi comment.
@Mike Smit
I also had a good laugh at this. All in all it was a good turn out and a lot of good questions were brought up.
Overall, It has been great to see the Senate candidates get stronger since the first debate. They all looked out of place the first day (Who blames them really, who does know what the senate does?!), but yesterday and today all three showed they will do a great job just by their dedication and hard work.
Additionally, Mark/Craig have both been class acts. Kudos to Mark as well who completely stood up for Craig and both have shown that they know the job and have the passion to do it. Losing one of them sucks, but here’s to hoping they both are heavily involved next year (Society/Communications commissionaire?)
For clarification purposes, when I said “website that could be updated by anyone” I DID NOT mean everyone. I meant by those who needed to update certain sections could do it. Basic updates could be done by a non-techie.
Though my firm created this video for a different purpose. Here is a link to the type of system, I was referring to:
http://www.vimeo.com/2879505
It has become clearly apparent. I would like to nominate Jen Bond for DSU President.
I feel like I was right beside you smelling Burns. Thanks for the intel.
@Mark Hobbs
Ahhh. I understand now. Thanks for the clarification, Mark.
Is it bad that I can hear Jen speaking this post to me in my head?
And I guess I’m double-posting, but I’ll just concur–best moment of the debate was Mark’s defense of Craig. Seriously.
Mark – part of your platform is around the DSU website; however, you have clearly shown you have a website development company… so if you get the job will you hire your company to redo the website and have the “company” charge the DSU a fee for this? Because that sounds fairly sleazy to me if you do. It would essentially be the same thing as the VPFO saying they run a company that can audit books for societies and charge the DSU a fee for it and then they would end up pocketing more of the DSU’s money.
The obvious appendix to THAT question is, during your time as communications commissioner, what work has Spartan done with or for the DSU?
I think Mark was showing his product as an example. Mark’s a good guy, I’ve no doubt he’d call for tenders that would be voted on in council – and be conveniently absent during the debate. While it could be considered a COI, Mark would definitely do this the right way.
@Mark Hobbs
It is my understanding that the current DSU web page is already able to be updated by “those that need to” (though I am unsure if it provides the customer oriented fanciness of your proposed interface), and that society administration is to a degree already online, thanks in no small part to services provided by Dal students.
I was wondering what specific shortcomings you seek to improve in the current online offerings, and whether you advocate going out and hiring a company to create/provide a replacement, or nurturing the model of “by students for students” which the DSU has practiced for the last few years.
@Sean
I have to state for the record that tiger societies is a horrible horrible website which need to be redesigned from the ground up. The possibility exists for student groups to be able to advertise and for students to be able to find out what’s going on but unfortunately it is so hard to use that no one does.
@Chris Saulnier
This attitude has always amused me. X doesn’t work the way I think it should, we’re starting over. This is why the DSU never manages to keep a website for more than a year or two at a time.
Why doesn’t the DSU consult with candidates to get fair speaking times?
Is it really a student organization when the two favourites are given a chance and the students candidate is left out???
People should let Greg post his side!
@Rofflestiltskin
You have a very good point – but I wonder if you’ve ever been on or had to use tiger societies. If you knew me you would know that I am not a burn it down and start over kinda guy – however in a past life I worked as a professional web designer – I’d like to think I have a little idea of what is possible. I also work now as an embedded systems programmer. The one thing I know is that trying to fix a system which has a lot of structural issues often takes twice as long and is half as effective as just scrapping the broken system and starting over with a proper design.
I also happen to know that this viewpoint is shared by the current VP Internal who arguably should know the system better than anyone else.
@Chris Saulnier
If you don’t win would you be willing to do this work for the DSU anyway?
@Sarah Bergman
I think you have me mistaken for someone else. I’m currently not in the running to ‘win’ anything. Other than perhaps a top commenter award for this website.
Yes – I do plan on continuing to push this with the next executive.
No – you can’t pay me to do it – I retired from web design for a reason.
@Chris Saulnier
Too bad, you sound like you could have made some valuable contributions to student life.
@Sarah Bergman
I do make contributions – and that is what people need to understand. You don’t have to win an election to make a difference. Hell – you don’t even have to run. You just have to be reasonable and work from within the system to cause change. There is no point yelling that the DSU is undemocratic and then pissing off everyone who puts a lot of work into it by purposing motions with blatant lies in them.*
*I am of course referring to the claim that the DSU has campaigned to raise tuition. I really must have missed when Courtney went on that bender. It is absurd.
PS. Take debate times up with the Elections Committee. Yes council appoints them but there are no councillors on the actual committee – just plain old students. Council is 100% hands off of the election.
@Chris Saulnier
Hear hear on not needing to be elected to make contributions.
@Chris Saulnier
Retired – too funny. You make yourself sound like an old man, Chris!