Union Board Elections 2007 (1 Viewer)

[Phanatical]

Re: The Official Union Board Elections 2007 Thread

There's a great article by former Director Mark Chan illustrating the arguments against Affirmative Action, which I'll have to look for and repost.

Congrats to Abi Shead, though I suspect she'd be happier if she were elected on her merits.

 

[withoutaface]

Re: The Official Union Board Elections 2007 Thread

wow, democracy in action *shakes head*

Very much so. I'm seriously considering making a futile attempt to reform the Union constitution and remove the ghastly AA clause at the AGM. Problem is it needs 2/3 majority and once NOLS get wind of it they'll just stack it out again.

 

[withoutaface]

Re: The Official Union Board Elections 2007 Thread

.

When my parents were in their last years of high school in Malaysia, the government at the time introduced a policy of fixed quotas for the majority Malay-Muslim student population so they could increase the number of Malay-Muslims entering tertiary institutions, which until then, had been primarily Malaysian-Chinese students like my parents, who had gained university positions based on academic merit.
Because this policy was implemented, hardworking people like my parents missed out on going to university despite the fact that they had better academic results than their Malay-Muslim counterparts. The Malay-Muslim students were accepted simply because the government of the time felt that Malay-Muslim students were not properly represented at the tertiary level, and that Malay-Chinese students, who were a distinct minority, were taking over the country’s businesses and Malay-Muslims were losing out.
This kind of blatant discrimination was one of the key driving reasons as to why my parents decided to migrate to Australia – because they believed people here in Australia were rewarded based on results and merit.
It embarrasses me that I should have to tell my parents that in this day and age, a university organization that represents students in a developed nation like Australia believes that it should have a fixed number of positions for women simply because it believes they are under-represented on this Board of Directors.
Some of you here today will claim that there is a distinct and overt sense of discrimination because men continue to dominate the Board of this Union. As someone who has experienced discrimination first-hand, by being born Chinese-Catholic in a predominantly Malay-Muslim nation, I am disappointed to see such a motion before us today.
I once heard a woman advocating the appointment of women to a board because of the special qualities they bring as women. This is clearly wrong and insulting. We should be appointing people men and women to any position because of the special qualities they bring to that position as unique individuals. It's all about personal aptitude, motivation, equality of opportunity and freedom of choice. Women should be free to choose what they want to do. The sign that the gender debate has really matured will be when we talk about individual differences, not gender differences.
And of course there is the issue of what the women who are voting think – the concept that their vote is somehow muted because if they choose and vote for a male candidate to represent them over a female candidate – well guess what – your vote doesn’t count! Surely, as the statistics are showing, if women are voting for men over their female counterparts at union board elections, then much has to be said for the quality of female candidates that are stepping forward.
I would like to congratulate my colleague Hannah Diddums, for introducing a Women’s Mentoring and Training program to help and advise women that decide to run for Board positions. I believe this is a step in the right direction.
However, I am disappointed that this motion seeks to introduce what is essentially a “positively-discriminating” concept – the student population is slightly over half composed of women, so we should have half the board positions being given to women, even if the student population votes otherwise.
Where do we draw the line? One fixed position for International Students? One fixed position for students of non-English speaking backgrounds? What about two positions for students who went to a private school and the rest for public school students? If Board Directors are to be selected based upon such "representative" criteria, rather than by reference to their integrity, experience and ability, there is a real risk that such appointees will only be unduly sympathetic to the interests of their representative groups.
Members of the University of Sydney Union – if you truly want to be progressive, I urge you to vote this motion down and advocate a board of directors being elected based on who the student population believes will best do the job.

 

[Phanatical]

Re: The Official Union Board Elections 2007 Thread

Like Mark Chan, my parents are Chinese Malay. To offer a bit of background on the Malaysian situation, since the early 1970's the Malaysian Government has instituted quotas designed to place native Malays (bumiputra) on a more equal footing with immigrants (mostly Chinese). Native (Muslim) Malays were given preferential treatment for government contracts, cheap loans and discounted blocs of stock in big companies, and the civil service became exclusively native Malay. Even universities were required to maintain at least 60% native Malay population.

The merits of affirmative action may not be directly relevant to the Union Election, but they are certainly part of an issue that MUST be reexamined. It is pretty pathetic that in our society that we still judge the value of people by their ethnicity and gender, yet those who seek to achieve "equality" strive to do so by imposing inequality.

 

[Phanatical]

Re: The Official Union Board Elections 2007 Thread

Ruchir, as a candidate for Union Director what is your position on Affirmative Action? With the recent "election" of Alice, Vyvvan and Abi, are you committed to supporting a motion to repeal Affirmative Action in the Union Director elections?

 

[Nebuchanezzar]

Re: The Official Union Board Elections 2007 Thread

Man, pretty hard to miss all that chalk crap written all over the sidewalks at uni. If he's willing to waste that much money on chalk, who knows what he squander money on as president of the Union...or whatever it is you're going for, board of directors.

Not that it bothers me that much. It's a nice break from the usual "uniswap" or socialist advertising that usually gets displayed on the sidewalk. Any chance you'll be doing a meet-and-greet at university before the election, sir? May I bring my baby along for some hugs and kisses?

 

[Ruchir]

Re: The Official Union Board Elections 2007 Thread

Since someone posted about my policies, here they are >
www.ruchir.net (since its 12:50 a.m. Monday, I can officially campaign now).

I shall be more than willing to answer specific questions about my policies or otherwise. Feel free to contact me using my website I hope to see you all around.

Cheers,
Ruchir

 

[jb_nc]

Re: The Official Union Board Elections 2007 Thread

Since someone posted about my policies, here they are >
www.ruchir.net (since its 12:50 a.m. Monday, I can officially campaign now).

I shall be more than willing to answer specific questions about my policies or otherwise. Feel free to contact me using my website I hope to see you all around.

Cheers,
Ruchir

can i have a t shirt ill wear it every where tia

 

[townie]

Re: The Official Union Board Elections 2007 Thread

if u cant remove AA, u should at least propose that the clause becomes void if it leads to automatic election of directors.

I mean, I dont even know what the policies of these 3 women are, yet they have just been elected merley because 10 people nominated them, it's so utterley beyond comprehension

 

[withoutaface]

Re: The Official Union Board Elections 2007 Thread

Man, pretty hard to miss all that chalk crap written all over the sidewalks at uni. If he's willing to waste that much money on chalk, who knows what he squander money on as president of the Union...or whatever it is you're going for, board of directors.

Not that it bothers me that much. It's a nice break from the usual "uniswap" or socialist advertising that usually gets displayed on the sidewalk. Any chance you'll be doing a meet-and-greet at university before the election, sir? May I bring my baby along for some hugs and kisses?

Chalk costs nothing, as in the public transport people would have used to get into uni to do it would have cost more by several times than the chalk itself.

Campaign website's up at http://justinforunion.wordpress.com, and if anyone wants t-shirts and will wear them every day in at least the 1.5 weeks leading up to the election, then talk to me about it after Wednesday

EDIT: Did anyone else see the Captain Planet chalking?

EDITEDIT: Winrar

 

[stazi]

Re: The Official Union Board Elections 2007 Thread

Whilst I support Justin Simon for President of the World, there is no way you can get the shuttle buses implemented. The Union doesn't work in that way.

 

[jb_nc]

Re: The Official Union Board Elections 2007 Thread

I WANT T SHIRT WILL WEAR EVERYDAY tia

will also accept shuttle buses promised

 

[withoutaface]

Re: The Official Union Board Elections 2007 Thread

I'm getting them today, so just PM me what size and I'll get it to you.

Same applies to anyone else who wants one/will wear it. They're lovely, lovely turquoise.

 

[Nebuchanezzar]

Re: The Official Union Board Elections 2007 Thread

Ruchir handed me a pamphlet this morning. I was gonna say something, but I was in a rush. He's won my vote!

 

[Mel_b]

Re: The Official Union Board Elections 2007 Thread

Just to clarify a few things about this whole affirmative action situation

(context / disclaimer - I'm a card carrying feminist, and am good friends with both Alice and Vyv.)

-Abi is not the only female candidate disappointed to not have been elected 'on her own merits'. Alice and Vyv were both incredibly disappointed that they were unable to campaign and make their voices heard, and their policies known, on campus - which is a large part of the whole point of AA, that women's contribution to debate on campus be heard.

- To this end, a forum is being held for students to meet the female candidates / newly elected board directors, and to hear their policies, next Tuesday at 2pm (venue to be confirmed, I can give people more details if they would like them)

The point of AA is not to discriminate against men. It's a recognition of longstanding cultural, social and economic bias and/or discrimination against women in the public sphere, and an attempt to correct this.

What we have seen in the past is that, despite the fact that there are just as many women as men on campus, women have been significantly under-represented on union board.

The logic of implementing AA to correct this is that a lack of female representation is an artificially created problem - consider it like this - if we accept that a system without stipulation as to the make up of board leads to the best candidates being elected, and we also see that less women are elected to board time and time again, there are only two conclusions that can be drawn - either that women are inherently less capable, or that there are artificial barriers to women being elected.

I think the vast majority of us can agree that women aren't inherently less capable, which means that we have to acknowledge that women face certain discrimination or obstacles in running campaigns on campus - consider the 'campaigns' run against female candidates in recent times - slurs about them having sexually transmitted infections, for example. A lot of women show up to the pre-application networking events, express an interest in running, and then decide against it because of the kinds of personal attacks that are made against female candidates. It's phenomenally intimidating, manifestly unfair, and one of the primary reasons why women are reluctant to run at all, and if they do decide to run, reluctant to put themselves out there the way that male candidates do, for fear of making themselves targets.

AA seeks to correct this by ensuring that women are well-represented on board, in the hope that this will encourage a culture change, so that we may reach the point where the policy is no longer needed, when women are respected as board members and candidates, and do not fear slanderous attacks whilst running their campaigns.

On a brighter note, both Alice and Vyvyan are incredibly hard working people, and have some great ideas for the union. They both have a tremendous amount of energy and will bring a lot to their roles in the coming two years. I don't know Abi personally, but she is spoken of highly here and I am sure she will do an equally fantastic job. Don't for one second assume that just because these women weren't elected, they won't do just as good a job as any of the male candidates. The situation at hand has led to both Alice and Vyv being being very determined to prove that they deserve their positions, and I'm confident they will do their utmost to serve the interests of students at Sydney University.

 

[hiphophooray123]

Re: The Official Union Board Elections 2007 Thread

vote #1 Justin Simon

 

[stazi]

Re: The Official Union Board Elections 2007 Thread

hahah that was a funny read. i will keep it brief, as I have an assignment to do

1) the point is that the women were elected on the basis of their sex, not any other factors. if there were four legitimate candidates then it would be on the basis of their sex AND their 'voices'

2) why are women such targets as opposed to men? How many homosexuals have run in the past and gotten in? A lot. Wouldn't they be even larger targets than women, as women are accepted in society, whilst homosexuals still have a long way to go?
"X has an STD" isn't a very strong form of attack. Women are as likely (perhaps even less so) to have an STD than men. This sort of attack would not be an attack against the woman, but an attack against the candidate in question. Hell, many women have attacked the male candidates for being chauvanists, sexist, etc etc etc, when this may not be the case. Is this intimidating? Maybe. However, if they find it intimidating then they shouldn't even be on the Board representing the interests of the students. How would they cope in such an environment?

In fact, you are implying that women are worse at coping with personal attacks than men. I find that to be a sexist attitude.

3) You are saying that the logic behind AA is for fair representation, as the campus is half-female and in the past more men have made it to the board then women (although this isn't necessarily so all the time). People vote for the candidates that reflect their own opinions, not their own sex. I think we can agree that union-related goals aren't restricted to whether you're a male or female. Hell, if you're so concerned about fair representation on the board, I propose that we have 2 Asians and 3 Anglo-Saxons elected, with the 6th member being from any other minority group on campus.
The point is that predominant views are represented on the Union board. In fact, 60% of USYD students are women. Women don't necessarily vote for other women, as they vote for the candidates that best reflect their own views. Whether these views are shared by a male candidate, a female candidate or even a transexual candidate is irrelevant.

4) Finally, I'm still surprised that you believe that women are more likely to suffer slanderous attacks. Then those women shouldn't engage in any form of politics, as its all about slander if you run for parliament.

 

[Bobness]

Re: The Official Union Board Elections 2007 Thread

I'm getting them today, so just PM me what size and I'll get it to you.

Same applies to anyone else who wants one/will wear it. They're lovely, lovely turquoise.

I could wear it everyday at my uni I'm medium size.

Also is it too late to vote if i happen to transfer to usyd next semester?

Anyway your policies look about right (don't really know exactly how you fare as a person) and would love to see the $5 meals implemented particularly when i am getting my research on over at fisher.

(The only cheap food within 15mins of the library is this viet store next to redfern station which has $3.50 rolls)

 

[stazi]

Re: The Official Union Board Elections 2007 Thread

have you been to that place near the broadway bus stops? $4 or so Thai and Chinese meals. Quite good for the money too. Pube-free, as well.

 

[xXeMoxXxCoRexX]

Re: The Official Union Board Elections 2007 Thread

Justin Simon has an STI