The last week of campaigning in the VUWSA General Elections has been really enjoyable to watch. Last week’s Candidates’ Forum, in particular, was very successful, with a great turnout and a large majority of candidates making solid election pitches.
There are short summary clips—check them out through the video on the Salient Facebook page.
It’s awesome to see so many people running for election in 2012. This year we received 28 nominations, one of the highest numbers in recent years. Better yet, the calibre of the candidates has been excellent.
VUWSA operates on the fundamental basis of students representing students. We believe that students’ voices are essential for letting us know what services students wish to receive, and how much they want to pay for these services, and as an active part of VUWSA’s representation of students. It’s for this reason that the best are elected to lead VUWSA in 2012.
Electing good candidates is a crucial part of ensuring that the interests of students—quality education, fair decision-making, and adequate student support—are protected. It’s important that you take time to read up on and research those running, to ensure that VUWSA remains a powerful force in ensuring your time at Victoria is the best it can be—both academically and socially—especially with Voluntary Student Membership looming.
For the first time when you’re voting online you will be able to access the candidates’ manifestos. If you haven’t yet decided, these are invaluable in guiding you towards deciding which candidates are best for VUWSA, and ultimately, best for you. By now, you will have received an email to your student email account that provides you with a link to the relevant voting page—it’s a very easy process, which will only take a couple of minutes at most.
But wait, there’s more! After you’ve voted for your preferred Executive, you’ll be contributing your opinion on our proposed Strategic Plan—a document which outlines VUWSA’s overarching goals in the long term. It is the result of many months’ work, countless drafts, arguments over choice of words, and extensive consultation with almost all representative groups and student representatives. We’re now ready to extend it to you before it is formally adopted at the next General Meeting.
This Strategic Plan is a key aspect of our ongoing programme of professionalising and invigorating your students’ association. It will ensure that you always receive an outstanding level of service and a strong student voice across Victoria year-to-year. You can find a copy on our Facebook, website and attached to the online voting system.
So please, make sure you vote!
Have a great week.