[eDebate] Meeting/Participation Concerns

[Adam Farra]

I was just throwing the idea out - more importantly I think the  
question is "why on earth should 15-20 students determine the  
elections for the representative of the entire student populations"?

On Apr 1, 2007, at 5:35 PM, Sarah Snider wrote:


> 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

>>

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