Bitter in-fighting in Nouse caused controversy following the conduct of “dodgy” annual elections.YUSU received multiple complaints from disgruntled students causing them to suspend website editing.
It has emerged that various members of the newspaper’s voting audience were not actually students, but ex-members of the Nouse team who had already left the University.
The breach was treated as a “reason for investigation,” by YUSU Student Activities Officer Rhianna Kinchin.
Further damming information was also brought to light this week, after an anonymous member of last year’s Nouse editorial team contacted Vision to express their fury about how the elections were handled.
Complaints slammed Nouse for an apparent lack of organisation and the failure to make notes of the elections. Kinchin admitted it was “not particularly professional.”
The paper was eventually saved when a YUSU investigation concluded that the non-student voters could not have influenced the elected outcomes of key position.
However Vision’s source from within Nouse suggested an opposing point of view, saying that schemes to ensure that only paid members voted “soon fell apart” and that “many people who voted were not eligible to do so.”
Kinchin’s advice for Nouse and all other ratified societies which will be running elections in the future is to “have minutes of all elections, and always use a secret ballot system for tightly contested positions.”
Scandalous as it may be, I’m not sure why this is the second news story in Vision. They were investigated, and the investigation found no problem. I’m not saying it’s not news, but second story, really?
“Vision’s source from within Nouse suggested an opposing point of view, saying that schemes to ensure that only paid members voted “soon fell apart”” – At least Nouse aspired to ensure that only paid members voted. At Vision’s elections at the end of Week 1 of this term there were no such measures in place at all – anyone turning up could vote (student or non-student as no checks were made), and indeed stand for election, not having paid membership.
“Kinchin’s advice for Nouse and all other ratified societies which will be running elections in the future is to “have minutes of all elections, and always use a secret ballot system for tightly contested positions.”” – Vision preferred to count votes by hand at their elections, which apart from taking a long time, may have resulted in some people being elected unfairly.
So it would seem that there was as much ground for an investigation into Vision’s elections as there was in Nouse’s case.
Colm,
I would just like to point out that a secret ballot takes far longer than a hand vote.
On a side note however, you seem to be commenting on a lot stories, which is great. But usually negatively. I would suggest ditching your anonymity so that people don’t assume you’re just a disgruntled Nouse writer, unless you are of course.
What’s that Daniel? You went to the Nouse Social?
Colm- it’s already been said- if you’re just here to make public personal digs and attacks, then maybe you should comment at Nouse. They love that stuff over there.
If you want to make personal digs and jibes at individuals, or question the editorial decisions made by this newspaper (as you have done elsewhere), then please make them via email to the editors, and sign your name at the end.
Regards.
“They love that stuff over there.”
Such a beautiful example of hypocrisy :)
Daniel, Kelly,
Dear Sir, Madam,
Although you more than addressed Colm’s negativity in both your comments, you still haven’t squeeked on the rather dangerous accusation that Vision did _even less_ checking on who voted in their elections.
Thus the ensuing hilarity.
LOL,
Anon
Anon, these accusations are false I’m afraid. Vision’s elections were minuted so that, had there been any controversial votes, we could check and call a second round of voting if necessary. We could also have showed our minutes to YUSU if there was any disagreements. I can also guarantee that there were no non-student members present at the time.
Sorry Colm I’m slightly confused, is that a statement or a question?