SPOILED BALLOT
By Paul Virides
It has emerged that elections to University Senate were inaccurately published in the first instance by Democracy & Services Officer Dan Walker.
Students were able to choose between Eppie Leishman and Graeme Osborn, as well as the option to “Re-Open Nominations” (RON). Three positions for the role meant both candidates would be elected provided they receieved at least a few votes.
In a blog post on the 23rd December 2010, Walker listed the results of elections held at the end of last term. Leishman’s election to Senate was not mentioned, despite her having received numerous votes.
Vision understands that the problem was rectified once Walker was notified by colleagues and Leishman herself, who said that she “waited until January and having heard nothing about it, emailed Dan Walker to ask what had happened.
“He replied, telling me that Ben Humphrys had also raised the issue and that he was already planning to look into it.”
Walker confirmed Leishman’s report of the events, blaming the mistake on anonymous human error.
YUSU ELECTIONS BROUGHT FORWARD
By Milana Knezevic
This year’s YUSU election schedule is set for a shake-up. Candidates running for sabbatical and part time officer posts will be vying for your votes from Week Six onwards, as opposed to Week Eight, which has been the tradition in previous years.
Democracy and Services Officer Dan Walker told Vision that the change was implemented to make things easier for this year’s hopefuls. “We felt that campaigning and voting ended far too close to the end of term last year, putting huge pressure in candidates with assessments due in at the end of term.”
Furthermore, the new time of the elections ensures that they won’t clash with Fusion at the end of Week Eight or a Union General Meeting in Week Nine.
Nominations opened yesterday, with hustings taking place on February 17 and campaigning starting the following day. You can vote for your chosen candidates from February 25, and the results will be revealed on election night Thursday March 3.
Walker says the timeline will be widely publicised through the next few weeks.