The First Steps

An interesting thing happened to me yesterday. I made my first post and then tried to advertise it on MacInsiders. I was hit with an immediate backlash by a MI member about how I am un-researched and how the SRA is accountable.

Upon closer inspection, the member turned out to be a prominent member of the MSU's Maroons and apparently a former housemate of two SRA councilmen. I understand where he might be coming from, but it makes me wonder just how misinformed people are as to the performance of their political bodies.

First of all, every political body everywhere needs outsiders overseeing their development and progress. It's the nature of the beast. What I am trying to do is provide some of this accountability so that the SRA has some indication of how they appear in a regular student's eyes. Mr. Gandhi, I do not believe in the SRA policing themselves as council members have frequently neglected their entire portfolios in the past.

However, the SRA can be commended on improving. I would like to offer suggestions as to how they could be better:

• The SRA apparently submits a plan for their tenure to outline what projects they plan to invest time in, including specifics as to the logistics. Nobody has released these to their constituents and I think this would be a fantastic and open way for the constituents to understand what their members plan on doing in the year.
• The SRA's office hours do not solicit anything. If you walk by their office (right next to SHEC) you can usually see a group of them inside with the door closed, or one of them sleeping on the couch, or in rare occasions: the door open with someone deeply engrossed in their own school work. None of this makes me want to go talk to them.
• Take all the criticism you can get and act on it. I would MUCH rather vote for someone who I thought was doing a shit job, talked to me about it, and then made amends than I would someone who did a decent job and didn't listen to me.

Three steps to start of with. I think that this will start making the council much more legitimate to the students.

First Post

Hey guys,

It's coming to be that time at Mac where we all understand just how little the MSU has done for us in the past 8 months and everyone and their dogs will be vying for the next presidency. I decided to put up this blog so that information can be disseminated to the students through a different way than The Sil.

I will blog regularly, but do not have any set schedule. Some days will have a lot of posts, some days will not.

Let's start this all off at the top of the heap. President Vishal Tiwari. The former VP Education had an ambitious, albeit lackluster presidential platform. Amongst these things included increased communication, increased support for student services, etc.

At this point in time, 7 months into his term, Vishal seems to have all but forgotten his platform. His promises of bi-weekly talk back forums have completely failed, and he seems very pleased with his "Dish it to Vish" debacle.

Last time I saw Vishal in his green kermit hat (As advertised in the Silhouette) he and his VP Finance Andrew Caterine seemed to be in the student centre looking eager to talk.... to one another.

Please Vishal. You're not fooling anyone. You're as much a lame-duck president as your predecessor. You just are much friendlier than him.

Next, what happened to increased bus service? Or how about letting us know about what happens at SRA meetings?

The MSU is ridiculous and they clamor on about student apathy. Last week's Sil had an article that said it best. We don't care because you give us nothing to care about. I do not look forward to Presidentials when the same troop of MSU misfits descends upon us lowly folk with stories of how they are different or an outsider simply because they haven't been in the SRA as long as their opponent.

We need some real change.