[eDebate] Meeting/Participation Concerns

[Sarah Snider]

Why on earth would student elections for CEDA positions be held at the NDT?



On 3/31/07, Adam Farra <adamhfar at umich.edu> wrote:

>

> I think Candice's attempts are noble and in good-faith, but I would have

> to say that I'm not too sure about the "post-election" reforms as really

> solving the problem that Gabe et. al. have cited.

>

> Most importantly, I think that when Gabe talks about the lack of student

> representation he is talking about a pretty specific problem with *this *year's

> elections: that the elections only represented 15-20 students in an activity

> where, at the NDT alone, there are over 170 (pretty sure).

>

> I want to be clear on this: I don't know Candice very well, and from what

> I've read she seems like a noble candidate, so this is not a criticism of

> her, but of the skewed system of elections. The question of student

> participation is one that must be addressed first with student elections -

> indeed, the inclusion of MORE students (or at least a population that is

> somewhat representative of the population) in the election of the student

> representative is a pre-requisite to the general reforms of the "structures"

> that allow student participation in the topic process, the community's

> rules, etc.

>

> Is there some way to do another election? Maybe at the NDT? Maybe online?

> Maybe...through e-mail ballots?? This would probably dramatically increase

> the amount of students voting - and it even lets students who could not go

> to CEDA (like me for school reasons) be more invested in their community

> general through participating in the election process.

>

> And, seriously, I don't think Candice is a bad person - I think everything

> she's said is intelligent, but I really do think that 15-20 students voting

> for a population of 300 or some is just...well...it's BS, frankly.

>

> Adam

>

> On Mar 31, 2007, at 1:11 PM, candice moore wrote:

>

> I am very sorry that some of the students who wanted to attend the Student

> Rep Meeting and the Elections were not able to go due to travel issues or

> any other issue hindering them from attending both of these very important

> meetings. I will make sure in the future that we post the times and rooms

> reserved for these meetings more than they were this year as well as having

> the National Student Rep post as well. I understand that there was some

> confusion as to where the first meeting was held and that the time of the

> second meeting should of been held later than I already did that evening. I

> would have also delayed the meetings if I knew that more than three schools

> at the time of registration had notified someone from CEDA of their travel

> issues. I also tried to prolong these meeting as much as I could so maybe

> that some people could still attend. Because of those reasons I thought

> having a blog would be a great idea so that the students who could not

> represent themselves in person could write about their ideas or opinions and

> discuss it. I think that what Gabe had to say about the 15-20 persons

> representing the students not being adequate to the size of the community is

> a BIG example as to how we need to start getting out into the community and

> having more participation. I wouldn't blame travel issues to the only reason

> we have a lack of students participation but also take into consideration

> that the students that I heard speak out at the Student Meeting said that

> they didn't have a lot of information about any of the roles we are elected

> for. That is why I am in the process of making a handbook on the duties or

> roles that a Student Rep., National Student Rep., and a Topic Comm. Rep.

> will perform during their terms. I am making sure that we do not have these

> problems or issues anymore. I am also trying to do more with the roles we

> are elected into and really show the community that a students voice does

> matter. I think a big question we should be asking ourselves is how do we

> get more participation with an activity we all love and respect? How do we

> show the community we care about their ideas and opinions no matter what

> they are? The only thing I can say is start talking to everyone about what

> should happen and then act on it and make sure you have a Student Rep.

> elected in your area. Also start using the blog as a non-biased forum to

> express your opinions. Again I am sorry that some students couldn't attend

> the meetings and will make sure that the National Student Rep. next year

> will take the extra step to make sure all our voices are heard.

>

> Thanks for the responses and ideas for a better future,

> Candice Moore

> National Student Rep. 2006-2007 <javascript:void(0)>

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> It's tax season, make sure to follow these few simple tips

> http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Taxes/PreparationTips/PreparationTips.aspx?icid=HMMartagline

>

> _______________________________________________

> eDebate mailing list

> eDebate at www.ndtceda.com

> http://www.ndtceda.com/mailman/listinfo/edebate

>

>

>

> _______________________________________________

> eDebate mailing list

> eDebate at www.ndtceda.com

> http://www.ndtceda.com/mailman/listinfo/edebate

>

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.ndtceda.com/pipermail/edebate/attachments/20070401/80f13279/attachment.html