Union elections
Don’t forget to vote!
When I said back at the beginning of March that nothing else mattered this month but Crufts, I was exaggerating a bit in my excitement. Because this week, something is happening which is very important if you are a University of Portsmouth student, and if you haven’t noticed it you’re clearly not getting out enough or not paying enough attention when you do.
I am talking, of course, about the Students’ Union Elections. This is the time of year when you, the students, can have a real say in the way your Union (and yes, it is so much more than a venue) is run next year, and who you want to run it on your behalf. If you have a student card (and we know you all have a student card), you can vote. And it’s as simple as numbering a few boxes and dropping some paper through a slot – you even get a lollipop and a coupon worth £5 off a University of Portsmouth hoodie when you’re done! So, if you haven’t voted, why not? You still have four days to make your voice heard, so drop along to one of the Ballot boxes (which are almost everywhere on campus, including the Library) and take five minutes of your time to make a difference.
Not sure who to vote for, or why to care? Well, you can read all the candidate’s manifestos (don’t worry, they’re only 400 words each) here (http://www.upsu.net/elections/candidates), or in our Elections Spread in Pugwash News Issue 39. There are even handy one-minute video summaries by each of the candidates if you’re really pressed for time! Or, you can find one of them (they’re the bunch dressed up as nutters, giving out stickers and pouncing on random passersby) and chat to them or their campaign teams in person.
As for why you should care, well, I think you already know the answer to that! It’s YOUR Union, which helps contribute to YOUR University experience and works on YOUR behalf to make everything the best it can be. This year alone, the fine Sabbatical team have: protested about departmental cuts within the university; lobbied MPs against a rise in tuition fees; increased the budget for all societies; made sport cheaper for you to take part in; arranged events to entertain disabled children and elderly people as well as events to entertain your fine selves; raised money for charity through the RAG team; kept you informed about the uni closures during the snow days; put out a regular student newspaper for your information and a magazine for your amusement; and helped large numbers of you either with problems with your coursework, with complaints procedures or with personal issues. You may not know it as anything other than a bar, but believe me, the Union is working for you, the students, all the time.
And, come July, a whole new bunch of people will be in charge of the direction it takes. You get to decide who, so don’t forget to vote. It’s very important.
