punditry.ca — uncovering DSU elections

The scary part?

You summed it up pretty great Mike Smit.

I see two subliminal messages in Jamie’s
- In ominous red, right below the ‘d’ in food… I see “Kill people” haha
- also the first three words that jumped out at me were “Creating night strangers”
Just sayin’

One candidate’s does not have the word T-Room in there….None say “Carlton”. Students on other campuses often feel a disconnect from the rest of the university population and although they have their own way of relating to each other and socializing and planning events they often use the VPSL as a resource.

@Henry: Pretty good summary of the candidates indeed.

I think this shows a pretty clear theme, or a general foundation for everyone’s platform. I think Jamie Arron’s really shows a commitment to a holistic, grassroots and organic approach to the portfolio, especially with such an emphasis on community and interaction among “strangers”. By far the least typical campaign for this position, but with enough solid experience in the DSU to back it up, this guy could really be hard to beat. Also, I still think the Grawood house band on a Friday night is one of the best concrete ideas I’ve heard for the Grawood, and I cannot for the life of me think how Kris didn’t beat him to it.

English Tom Dobbyne’s shows that he is fairly focused on the campus bar scene, but of course without missing the key big events like Homecoming and O-Week. I think the tone of Tom’s platform is that he really intends to take a good look at what we already have, and make some good technical improvement’s to it. As a weekly patron of the Grawood, I absolutely love the idea of the VIP system, regardless how anything similar has been run in the past I think this has serious potential to keep people coming back. Might be a bit scary if I ever found out how much money I actually spent there though. Combining this with more wet/dry nights could really help boost the Grawood’s attendance on a regular basis.

While Jamie’s seems indicate the greatest degree of change (although mostly easily achievable), and Tom’s seems to suggest a desire to expand and make improvements to what already exists, Adam’s seems to indicate an intent to continue with relative similarity to previous years. A bad thing? Not necessarily. As probably the most “experience” candidate for the position, he likely has the most know-how to handle the position in it’s most traditional manner, and could probably assume the job right now and have no problems at all. I think his focus should turn to some serious concrete ideas for changes or improvements to this year, as if elected may be the most able to get things implemented.

Overall, this is a really interesting race, one in which every candidate would likely fit the role of VPSL quite perfectly. It’s also an enormous relief that there’s a three-way contest for this spot, after two years or unopposed candidates (not that it worked out badly). While all candidates are strong, Jamie’s campaign seems very well supported and mobilized, and his platform is based on some great solid ideas. Tom’s campaign, while perhaps the quietest also has good ideas which hopefully some people are paying attention to. Adam might be the best known, and will probably have a lot of support from societies which seems to have always produce a large number of votes.

Who will take it? I definitely think Jamie looks like a front runner right now but I could be wrong. I hope whoever does win however goes for both the house band and the VIP system, and then Sebastian Fiszman will be destined to forfeit your tuition’s worth of his salary.

@Zhindra Gillis
Huh, T-Room? There’s other campuses than Studley?!

But in all seriousness, IF students on other campuses found out how awesome the T-Room was, the Grawood would be in even more trouble. Just sayin.

punditry, just when I thought you couldn’t do anything dumber you go out and do something like this – AND COMPLETELY REDEEM YOURSELF (quote from Dumb and Dumber for anyone that missed the best movie of the 90s). I think this is a brilliant way to showcase candidates positions in an engaging way! wicked stuff. I’m excited for the other candidates’ word clouds.

is it cool if I use this image and throw it up on my website? minus the word kill.

I managed to get my platform up on my website today. I eagerly await the results of 11 pages of sleep-deprived Hohn Jillman.

@Jamie Arron (VPSL)
Although it is pretty hilarious that the program threw it right above ‘people’… what are the chances!

@Maggie
Chances? It’s not random Maggie – it knows…

@Henry
@Zhindra Gillis

I’m beginning to wonder if any of these three have been on Sexton outside of the debate, and yes I’m aware one lived there. Judging purely on how they describe the T-room (‘keep improving’, ‘have bands’?) and my own attendance I’m really skeptical any of them have been there.

The T-room HAS weekly events. They also FILL them. In fact, instead of trying to “fix” our apparently broken ways you might be wiser to try and emulate them on YOUR upper campus. How many students were at the Grawood the Friday before the break? T-room had an hour wait to get in before 10PM rolled around.

Apparently there a whole bunch of societies and residences up there. Perhaps look into setting up a year long competition between them. Risley Hall vs. How Hall trivia. Poli Science vs. Neuroscience dance off. Societies earn points from the competition and by signing up as attending at the door. Give some sort of prize or incentive for the night. Give a huge prize at the end of the year to the winning group. There is supremacy at orientation, couldn’t be that much harder to do something on a larger scale for the whole campus. People CONNECT to their faculty, USE THAT to get them to INTERACT with other faculties. But what do I know, I’m at Sexton student – we don’t exist/ keep to ourselves

Engineers (and our other Sexton friends) are surprisingly easy to please, just hang out with us. After all, the popular idea down here is that the DSU has little to do with us (save the efforts of LeForte and our exam schedule) and yet we still have a pretty good thing going.

But maybe they don’t want votes.

… and no. Harassing students at engibeering doesn’t count as campaigning on Sexton, though to be fair she did actually sway votes so it helped a bit I suppose. Since I’m apparently doing shout outs I will say I’ve seen Henry quite a few times (including last year) here too.

Pro-tip: There are courses that have several different disciplines in them. Perhaps stop by those like you do every other faculty. Engineers talk. Taking it one step further, there is supposedly a campus somewhere between where you take classes and downtown. I’m sure those people talk too.

Pro Tip 2: A former VPSL has a gig at the T-room tonight. Fridays have Halifax’s top rated trivia (and while this terms numbers have been down largely, certain weeks have been packed) Supposedly some sort of event is happening Saturday. Might want to look into that too.

And unless my memory really fails me, the Engineering council is voted on in the same ballot. If we’re already voting for that, maybe 2 or 3 of us will vote for the DSU too. Or pick random boxes of people we don’t know.

Pro Tip 3: Attendance at Athletic events can be tied into the Supremacy too. Engineers fill a section at the Mooseheads frequently. Henry can comment more but I believe Howe Hall did something similar for athletics?

Use the Society council to get people. Most students know them better then you. Those guys are amongst them daily. Having a single society rent out the venue exclusively is not a good solution.

Pro Tip #4: Societies like money. Dal Water Polo does a fundraiser at Pacifico. Perhaps try and get a similar arrangement for the Grawood. Hell, make it a competition where the winning society of the night gets 75% of the raised funds ad the other only 25%. Maybe GeekBeer wants some more videogame systems / better TVs, try and get them to head over to the Grawood once their event wraps up. Help them, Help you.

… and since i’m on a roll, i’ll part with. Splitting profits (not necessarily 50/50) at a packed venue seems smarter then hoarding pennies at an empty one. Though perhaps a commerce student could verify, you can find them ALL at the Pogue right now – not the Grawood.

James :

Pro Tip 3: Attendance at Athletic events can be tied into the Supremacy too. Engineers fill a section at the Mooseheads frequently. Henry can comment more but I believe Howe Hall did something similar for athletics?

Yes and 4 years ago the DSU VPSL tried to make this trend extend to other societies, in other words emulate something that worked on Sexton. She tried to get a competition going between all the societies. I was away on co-op I’m not sure how it fared but I’m pretty sure the Engineers still has the strongest showing. I have been told in the past though a lot of time from students on council after they have attempted to emulate things that work on Sexton that what works for Sexton does not necessarily work for everyone.

I wouldn’t start thinking engineers are purely independent in running the T-Room. Actually it is completely run by the DSU via Sexton students(and actually one of the bar managers is a Studley Kin student, the first ever non engineer manager). The managers, Sexton Campus Entertainment Director and barstaff all work for the DSU. The Contracts for the bands are all done through the VPSL and the Grawood full time employee and manager. You are correct in saying that they don’t need to make promises like more bands, more this more that, except maybe more money and more support. While techball had been successful in previous years it was always because the DSUVPSL had taken a more active role in knowing how to get the ball rolling and knowing things like when to order tickets, when to start advertising, where to get money from the budget so there is money for a good band and decorations, whereas I heard this year it was left a little to the last minute. The VPSL has reports from the previous year that the students on Sexton may not have that has all that info in it. While the students on Sexton are very eager and willing to make sure things happen they don’t always know exactly what needs to be done so the support from the VPSL is very important.

I have noticed a trend in the last few years that the T-Room has been requested quite frequently for society events as well. It’s smaller, easier to fill and it has the classic college bar feel. I would say maybe a good promise might be to try and open it up lunch(not necessarily providing the food, unless they put in a little kiosk) or even a few more nights a week or promoting it more to smaller societies for society nights. They should try to get the residences and other faculties on Sexton more interested in the T-Room, it’s not just for engineers anymore….Also the T-Room is not the sole venue for student life at Sexton, so much can be done in the alumni lounge, on the gazebo, on the field and in the gym. Anyway this is way too long and I could talk about it forever so I’ll stop. Generally though James your comments are pretty good and pretty accurate and I’m impressed with the number of groups you are aware of and how you know all about all their particular events.

I see your long post and raise my own Zhindra.
You have a much better memory then I Zhindra. I don’t remember the event but I reckon the Engineers would dominate the participation of the Mooseheads. It is traditionally their event. I think you misunderstood the points I was trying to make. Obviously the Sexton events won’t directly translate over the whole campus. Just like if you tried to hold I a wine & cheese like several of the other faculties have, it wouldn’t be enarly as successful on Sexton. Engineers don’t drink that way. (and to clarify obviously not everything should be alcohol focused coming from a DSU planning perspective – that area happens to be more of my forte which is why it’s my focus).
And of course the DSU has a lot of background presence at Sexton, I would never deny that. However, it is background. With the position you held in previous years you’d also be more privy to the scope and specifications of that so you may not realize that for the average engineer at Sexton, we don’t see the DSU. I’m sure they do a lot but there definitely is the feeling that they are way up there. This year’s office hour’s fiasco didn’t help matters either. Not that I really see the point as I think there is still a bit of misinformation on how the DSU effects Sexton, so the students down there don’t utilize these hours pretty much at all. So I can easily see why executives wouldn’t like the trek down there either. It’s a bit of a catch-22 where the DSU is wasting their time going there as they might not be as efficient away from all their tools and it isn’t used that often, but if they don’t go they lose that connection with Sexton and upset us. Even if they say sat behind a desk in the alumni lounge, they would never be approached as much as a DSEUS member, because we don’t know them like we know our peers.
Instead we get the emails from Mike, an engineer, telling us about T-room events. Or the bartenders or our discipline councils inform us. So yes the DSU helps but it’s through the societies that the masses are reached. Depending on how you look at it, this method could be considered a success or a failure. I would imagine say Chem Beer would have to go through the DSU to obtain a liquor license and hold their event, but it’s still the Chemistry council that is the presence at the event.
Yes, I am familiar with Luke, who I believe you mentioned? Wasn’t the point I was making.
I’m sort of mixed emotions to bringing other societies to the T-room. First it is an inconvenience to them (though the college bar atmosphere is great). Secondly, Sexton isn’t huge. The lawyers and Carleton campus are already starting to show up in droves and I really don’t like the thought of having to camp out at the T-room entrance till opening, even if I already do that.
You have to remember a significant portion of Sexton students weren’t here their first two years. They never lived in residence and never were at upper campus. Those individuals have no connection to the DSU.
While disjointed I sort of ran on two tangents. One, the T-room isn’t in the same situation as the Grawood and Sexton students have different needs then upper campus. For the candidates they should be more aware of that as their campaigns have shown general ignorance. In a campaign, perception plays a huge role and while something may be a certain way, the public image is different and is ultimately who is voting. Engineers do vote so figuring out this pulse would be beneficial to them.
Two, Sextons successes can be partly contributed to the large public presence our council has over Sexton. Not only engineers are down here, yet it is still “the Engineer’s campus”. Secondly, people like to feel part of a group, whether it be residence, faculty or even your DSU insiders crew. If you can get the leaders of these groups on board I think it would be beneficial. Directing them to tell their people to go somewhere helps as their more likely to listen, especially if the leaders have an incentive to do that.
Look at what I’d perceive to be the most successful events I see around Dal. Halloween, St. Pats Start/End of the year get passes as it’s the social implication you’re gonna have a good time. Iron Ring is a big deal – candidates take note, its Saturday. Residence events. IWK charity hockey game Bighorns vs. Trojans is huge, same as the soccer game. At the T-room the trivia’s are the biggest when it’s Engineers vs. someone. Risley has had a President’s Cup that Howe has recently taken up, because its successful and unites people into their group. Then you have the other faculty events, such as commerce’s Bus trip to Nowhere. Again people showing up because their friends and classmates are. Hell even Dal’s got Talents success is because of support of friends/peers.
Now look at the Athletics, its largely family and friends attending those. I’ve been to volleyball/basketball games where no more than 20 people were not related to someone directly tied to these groups. At a hockey game I won $50 at intermission because I went and was chosen again because I was one of the few ‘non-regulars/family’.
*I’ll let you figure out where football falls into this.
. and then you have the Grawood doing things like Suitcase party or theme nights. Or even worse, society nights were a society vastly overestimates their size and populations proximity to the Grawood. Not everyone will commute into the city to drink on a Thursday with just their peers.
Why don’t they try to take away from the common theme of things successful. Society events that are heavily endorsed. Every faculty has their own major sort of event that most people go to. Even the Math department has their BBQ. However, what if smaller events with several faculties were made as friendly competition. Best Arts department? Offer an incentive to really get the Societies on board and heavily promoting.
That being said, if societies aren’t on board this would be a colossal failure.
Just like frosh week, the DSU is the backbone but the orientation leaders are the front lines. The leaders have to pump up every event and make it seem like ‘the can’t miss thing’ for it to be successful. If the leader is sort of enh, I’m not gonna go but it might be alright – no one will show up.
Use the rivalry to build camaraderie. Maybe thingk even bigger and try to get something going with SMU. It may be slow the first few years, but a FRIENDLY event at the Grawood and Gorsebrook. *I know the school ID issue might prohibit this.
But also like frosh week, like these competitions between residences or faculties, there is some sort of incentive, trophy and bragging rights. There is also a bunch of crazies leading the charge telling their crews why it’s a big deal. Blow up frosh week to include everyone for the whole year.
You say you want off-campus involvement. I ask what motivation is there for them to be involved? School spirit? It sure isn’t location and until you get that crowd it can’t compete with downtown. Why do people go to the Dome, Alehouse and what not anymore? These bars initially had some sort of incentive, whether it be size, prices or hours that got people and they’ve since retained them. Everyone wants to go there because that’s where everyone is. The tricky part is getting the events everyone wants to be at, at Dalhousie.
The biggest issue is getting the first big one. The crowds will follow once it becomes tradition, this is where the “special day” example becomes noticeable. They’re successful because they’ve always been.
Once someone realizes this and comes up with a solution (which is different for every circumstance and is definitely not easy). They’ll have solved the Grawoods trouble. Expecting crowds by changing the theme or the society’s name on the entrance banner won’t do it. It needs to become a culture.

And now that I’m encroaching on Hillman length, I think I better be done here.

@James
Definitely was not saying you were wrong, I was simply shedding light on the fact that the DSU supports the groups at Sexton and that they are not purely autonomous, also that they have tried to emulate engineers in the past (as you suggested they should do) and that it didn’t always work. Absolutely they should be more visible, you are quite correct in saying it applies to everywhere. I had suggested at one point and it was in Henry’s platform last year that they shouldn’t even do office hours at Sexton by sitting in an office, usually in my experience passing the time by playing around on the computer but they should sit in the alumni lounge with a big sign or sit in the office but offer free cookies for people who come visit. As for the rest all good points about athletics and the candidates would be wise to take note and come up with solutions.